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Learning Mobility to the Netherlands August 28 – 31, 2023
During the last week of August, an Erasmus+ learning mobility trip to the Netherlands took place, led by Puhastusekspert Ltd. Representatives from consortium members Tartu University Hospital Foundation, Rakvere Hospital Ltd., North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Valga Hospital Ltd., SOL Baltics Ltd., Arkaadia Puhastuse Ltd., P.Dussmann Ltd., and Puhastusekspert Ltd. participated in the learning mobility, totaling 17 people.
The trainers in the Netherlands were Kristel Rietveldt from Gouda Hospital and Jaap Niezen from SVS.
One of the main objectives of the learning mobility was to learn from the Dutch experience whether and how it is possible to ensure sufficient cleanliness and patient safety in a hospital environment by using water-moistened microfiber cloths and mops for cleaning.
Gouda Hospital has been using water-moistened cleaning textiles for cleaning since 2008. Disinfectants are used only for removing excretion stains and in cases of isolation. Among cleaning agents, a neutral agent is used daily for toilets and washrooms, in addition to an acidic agent once a week in toilets and an alkaline agent in washrooms. The hospital has systematic monitoring of cleanliness results and processes; in addition to visual assessment, ATP tests are used to determine organic dirt, and microbiological samples are taken. Gouda Hospital’s experience shows that conscious cleaning with water and microfiber is safe and sufficient in a hospital environment, as the infection rates of this hospital were lower compared to the Dutch average, meaning the results were better.
In 2011, they also switched to cleaning medical devices solely with water-moistened disposable microfiber cloths. The results of continuous monitoring also show good outcomes in this regard.
In addition to visiting Gouda Hospital, we studied at the SVS training center in Rotterdam and at a hospital in Amsterdam. It is interesting to note that the cleaning performance monitoring systems and standards applied in both hospitals are similar to INSTA800, which is used in Estonia and Scandinavia, i.e., EVS914:2020 Agreement and Evaluation of Cleaning Work Quality, and EVS944:2023 Cleaning Requirements in Healthcare Institutions.
Our group was very cheerful and eager to learn. During the 3-day training, we experienced an incredible amount and gained new thoughts and ideas that help consciously create cleanliness in the hospital environment and contribute to preventing the spread of hospital infections.
We considered the most important points to be:
◦ Achieving sufficient cleanliness requires continuous and systematic results and activity monitoring, as well as drawing conclusions from them.
◦ Cleaners had a defined training system – hospital cleaners had to complete two 7-day training courses within their first 6 months of employment, one on cleaning technologies and the other on the specifics of the hospital environment.
◦ Water and microfiber, when properly moistened and with a controlled cloth movement path – a very powerful tool, indeed removing 99.9% of microbial dirt. These figures were shown to us by the infection control representative of Gouda Hospital.
◦By acting consciously , we need few disinfectants and other agents.
◦ Thewell-thought-out correct preparation and use of cleaning supplies, trolleys, and textiles is the basis for a good result.
◦ In a hospital environment, one of the biggestenemies is dust , which is food for microorganisms. Its daily removal was a top priority in Dutch hospitals.
◦ Wards and similar rooms were cleaned without protective gloves, but there were strict rules for hand antisepsis – hand antisepsis was performed whenever a cleaning trolley or similar item was touched. Their experience shows that acting in this manner results in fewer hand-transmitted infections and less waste from disposable gloves.
◦ In cleaning rooms, a very clear clean and dirty zone was established to prevent contamination of cleaning supplies and cloths.
◦ Cleanliness in a hospital environment is the sum of many contributing factors. If one part is not as it should be, a domino effect occurs, meaning microorganisms can spread, leading to hospital infections. It is important to see the whole picture and monitor all aspects.
The trainers in the Netherlands were Kristel Rietveldt from Gouda Hospital and Jaap Niezen from SVS.
One of the main objectives of the learning mobility was to learn from the Dutch experience whether and how it is possible to ensure sufficient cleanliness and patient safety in a hospital environment by using water-moistened microfiber cloths and mops for cleaning.
Gouda Hospital has been using water-moistened cleaning textiles for cleaning since 2008. Disinfectants are used only for removing excretion stains and in cases of isolation. Among cleaning agents, a neutral agent is used daily for toilets and washrooms, in addition to an acidic agent once a week in toilets and an alkaline agent in washrooms. The hospital has systematic monitoring of cleanliness results and processes; in addition to visual assessment, ATP tests are used to determine organic dirt, and microbiological samples are taken. Gouda Hospital’s experience shows that conscious cleaning with water and microfiber is safe and sufficient in a hospital environment, as the infection rates of this hospital were lower compared to the Dutch average, meaning the results were better.
In 2011, they also switched to cleaning medical devices solely with water-moistened disposable microfiber cloths. The results of continuous monitoring also show good outcomes in this regard.
In addition to visiting Gouda Hospital, we studied at the SVS training center in Rotterdam and at a hospital in Amsterdam. It is interesting to note that the cleaning performance monitoring systems and standards applied in both hospitals are similar to INSTA800, which is used in Estonia and Scandinavia, i.e., EVS914:2020 Agreement and Evaluation of Cleaning Work Quality, and EVS944:2023 Cleaning Requirements in Healthcare Institutions.
Our group was very cheerful and eager to learn. During the 3-day training, we experienced an incredible amount and gained new thoughts and ideas that help consciously create cleanliness in the hospital environment and contribute to preventing the spread of hospital infections.
We considered the most important points to be:
◦ Achieving sufficient cleanliness requires continuous and systematic results and activity monitoring, as well as drawing conclusions from them.
◦ Cleaners had a defined training system – hospital cleaners had to complete two 7-day training courses within their first 6 months of employment, one on cleaning technologies and the other on the specifics of the hospital environment.
◦ Water and microfiber, when properly moistened and with a controlled cloth movement path – a very powerful tool, indeed removing 99.9% of microbial dirt. These figures were shown to us by the infection control representative of Gouda Hospital.
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◦ In a hospital environment, one of the biggest
◦ Wards and similar rooms were cleaned without protective gloves, but there were strict rules for hand antisepsis – hand antisepsis was performed whenever a cleaning trolley or similar item was touched. Their experience shows that acting in this manner results in fewer hand-transmitted infections and less waste from disposable gloves.
◦ In cleaning rooms, a very clear clean and dirty zone was established to prevent contamination of cleaning supplies and cloths.
◦ Cleanliness in a hospital environment is the sum of many contributing factors. If one part is not as it should be, a domino effect occurs, meaning microorganisms can spread, leading to hospital infections. It is important to see the whole picture and monitor all aspects.
