EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
INFECTION CONTROL POLICY
Refrigerator and Freezer Care for Patient Nourishment, Medications and
Specimens
Date Originated: 09/02/2008
Date Approved: 10/07/2008
Page 1 of 4
Approved by:
Date Reviewed: 06/14/2011
_________________________________
Department Chairman
____________________________________
Administrator/Manager
_________________________________
Chairman, Infection Control Committee
____________________________________
Infection Control Nurse
1
Care of Refrigerators and Freezers in Patient Care Areas
I.
II.
Purpose: To provide safe storage of drugs, food and specimens.
Inadequate refrigeration of foods may permit growth of
microbes, resulting in a greater likelihood of food-borne
illness.
Inadequate refrigeration of medications, biologics, vaccines,
and blood and blood products may alter potency and/or
chemical composition or allow proliferation of microbial
contaminants.
Condensate pans for refrigerators and/or freezers used to store
food, pharmaceutical, and blood products can create conditions
for mold growth.
Procedures:
A. Cleaning
1. All refrigerators/freezers should be cleaned with an EPA approved
disinfectant weekly and as necessary for spills.
2. Spills should be cleaned as they occur.
3. Any expired food or drink will be discarded
4. Expired medications will be discarded
B. Contents
1. Refrigerators must be labeled to note whether they are FOOD ONLY,
MEDICATION ONLY OR SPECIMENS ONLY.
2. All food in patient nutrition refrigerators must be dated when opened
discarded according to (1) the manufacturer’s recommendation or
(2) Odor, color change, texture change, or visible contamination or the
food or beverage.
3. All items in patient nutrition refrigerators must be in a covered
container or appropriately wrapped.
4. Medication or drug refrigerators should be kept solely for the purpose
of storing medicines that require refrigeration according to
manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Specimen refrigerators should contain only specimens that are properly
secured and appropriately labeled.
6. A biohazard label should be placed on specimen refrigerators.
C. Temperature monitoring
1. An accurately calibrated thermometer should be kept in each
refrigerator and freezer at all times.
Type of Refrigerator
Nutrition
Medication
Freezers
Pathology specimens
Temperature Requirements
1˚-5˚C
( 34˚-41˚F)
2˚-8˚C
(36˚-46˚F)
ˉ20˚-ˉ10˚C
(ˉ4-14˚F)
2˚-8˚C
(36˚-46˚F)
2
2. The temperatures of any refrigerator containing drugs, patient nutrition
or specimens should be checked and logged daily to ensure proper
temperature control. (See Appendix A)
3. Temperatures that register above or below the appropriate range will be
rechecked after door has remained closed for 1 hour. Temperatures not
within the acceptable range at 1 hour will be reported to facilities.
4. If the refrigerator is unable to be repaired immediately, it will be taken
out of service and contents removed and placed in another refrigerator.
5. In order to monitor for mechanical failure or electrical outages that may
occur overnight, or on weekends and holidays, place a penny on top of
a small cup of ice and keep the cup it in the freezer. If there has been a
disruption of power, the ice will have melted and the penny will no
longer be on top of the ice. Discard food items and notify pharmacy
for medication refrigerators and the Lab regarding any specimens.
6. All actions taken must be recorded on the temperature log.
7. Temperature logs should be saved for 1 year.
3
Appendix A
Refrigerator/Freezer Monitoring Log
Type of Refrigerator
Nutrition
Medication
Freezers
Pathology specimens
Temperature Requirements
1˚-5˚C
( 34˚-41˚F)
2˚-8˚C
(36˚-46˚F)
ˉ20˚-ˉ10˚C
(ˉ4-14˚F)
2˚-8˚C
(36˚-46˚F)
Month__________________
Day Temp Initials Weekly
Cleaning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Year___________________
Problems
Facilities
Notified
Action
taken
4