Controlling CDI —
Emergency Department Cleaning Procedure
Policy statement
The hospital will make reasonable and continuing efforts to minimize the need for nurses to perform
housekeeping functions.
Definitions
Room turnover: ED staff wipes down cart and all high touch areas with the alcohol-free wipes between every
patient.
Terminal clean: EVS cleans all high touch areas with quat, high dusts and mops the floor. Done at least once
every 24 hours as rooms are available.
Cycle clean: EVS washes walls, ceilings, all fixtures, washes all curtains and cleans all glass, floors are
scrubbed, and poly reapplied as necessary. Done at least once a year and as needed.
Purpose
To maintain a clean environment and reduce the possibility of cross-contamination between patients and
employees.
Procedure
All room turnover cleaning is done using AF wipes with the exception of the cardiac leads, which are cleaned with
bleach wipes.
ED rooms must be cleaned after every patient, following the procedure below.
Any item with visible soil:
 Clean item before disinfection using AF wipe and friction to remove soil. No dry time required after
cleaning step.
 Disinfect surface using a second AF wipe and allow to dry for three minutes following procedures below:
Room turnover
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1. Remove dirty linen from cart and put into nearest soiled laundry bin.
2. Wipe cart using a minimum of five AF wipes: three for mattress, two for side
rails and cart handles. Allow to dry for minimum of three minutes.
3. Dispose of trash in proper receptacles.
4. Wipe down counter top with AF wipes. Allow to dry for a minimum of three
minutes.
5. Wipe down dash monitor cables, not including cardiac leads, with AF wipes.
Allow to dry for a minimum of three minutes.
6. Wipe down dash monitor cardiac cables with bleach wipes. Allow to dry for a
minimum of four minutes then replace cables on holder.
7. Chairs used by patients or family members should be wiped down with AF
wipes and placed in chair holder.
8. Wipe down computer keyboard.
9. Shut cabinet doors.
Room turnover
of isolation
rooms
1. Same as above and staff to wear personal protective equipment as appropriate
for isolation type (e.g., gown and gloves for contact or enteric precautions). If a
room had a patient with diarrhea, use PDI bleach wipes to clean room instead
of AF wipes and allow four minute dry time. Leave isolation sign at room entry
until room is dry from cleaning and ready for patient.
Stab room
clean
1. Performed by EVS staff (preferred) when large volumes of blood and body
fluids, bloody trash or linens are present. Use microfiber cloths and quat instead
of disposable disinfectant wipes.
2. If no large volumes of blood or body fluids are present, the same procedure
should be used as stated in room turnover with the exception of extra detail to
equipment including, but not limited to:
a. Ultrasound unit, probes and cords
b. Top of crash cart
c. Cardiac monitor and cables
d. Glidescope
e. Acrylic airway case
f. Mayo stands
g. Countertops
h. Computer keyboards
Terminal clean
1. Performed by EVS staff following standard procedures
Cycle clean
1. Performed by EVS staff following standard procedures
Patient care
equipment
1. Equipment to be wiped down after each use (see Appendix A):
 EKG machines
 Bladder scanner
 Dopplers
 Thermometers
 Commodes with AF wipes
 Portable cardiac monitors (cardiac leads with bleach wipes)
 Nitrous machine
 Mayo stands
 Bedside tables
 Infant crib
Appendix A
Cleaning
products
Item
Who
Frequency
Keyboards and phones throughout nursing units
and lounge areas, except patient rooms
EVS - once per day
Unit staff - other
shifts
Once per shift
3M Quat - EVS
AF wipes - unit
staff
Dynamap
Unit staff
After each use
AF wipes
(Consider not
using)
Glucometers, oximeters, scales, bladder scanner,
Doppler, Mayo stand
Unit staff
After each use
AF wipes
Portable tele boxes
Unit staff
After each patient
AF wipes
Glide scope, ultrasound unit, portable EKG unit
Unit staff
After each use
AF wipes
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Tube system (Control panel)
EVS- once per day
Unit staff- other
shifts
Once per shift
3M Quat - EVS
AF wipes – unit
staff
Safe patient moving equipment (EZ stands,
mobile lifts, slip sheets, etc.)
Unit staff
After each use
AF wipes
Wheelchairs
User
After each use
AF wipes
Check and refill alcohol hand foam
Unit staff
Change as needed
Monitoring equipment that stays in room
(thermometers, ceiling lift remote, wall panel,
leads, cardiac monitors)
EVS – once per
day
Unit staff after each
pt
On terminal room
clean
Room turnover
3M Quat – EVS
AF wipes – unit
staff
Discard/disinfect patient supplies
Unit staff- remove
or clean before
terminal room
clean
On terminal room
clean- precaution
patients only
AF wipes
Discard items that
cannot be cleaned
Items to be returned to soiled utility room
Unit staff
Clean commodes
with AF wipes
before taking from
room
Clean all
equipment
removed from
precautions room
AF wipes
Isolation cart
CME – weekly
clean
Unit staff – after
each patient
To be rotated
weekly
Wipe down after
each patient use
AF wipes
Cardiac lead wires
Unit staff
After each use,
wipe each
individual wire
separately
Bleach wipes
Items in patient rooms or procedure rooms
AF wipes= three minute contact time
Bleach wipes= four minute contact time
Content courtesy of Allina Health