Breaking Down the Different Types of Medical Cleaning: Understanding Disinfection, Sterilization, and Sanitization

From years of experience working day in and day out with healthcare and medical facilities, our team well knows the critical importance of maintaining a clean and sanitized medical environment. We have seen firsthand how imperative it is to follow proper cleaning protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of both patients and staff.

Here we will delve deeper into the various types of medical cleaning services, namely disinfection, sterilization, and sanitization. We will explain their differences and highlight their specific purposes in healthcare settings so that you can better understand why each one is necessary!

Disinfection for Healthcare Facilities

Disinfection is a process that involves using chemicals to eliminate and prevent the spread of disease-causing microorganisms on surfaces. Disinfection in the medical setting is crucial in preventing the transmission of infectious diseases between patients, staff, and visitors.

There are several methods for disinfecting surfaces:

• Low-level disinfection: This method involves using chemical agents to kill most bacteria and some viruses on non-critical surfaces such as floors, walls, and furniture.
• Intermediate-level disinfection: It is more potent than low-level disinfection and can also kill fungi and mycobacteria along with bacteria and viruses. This method is used for semi-critical items like thermometers and endoscopes.
• High-level disinfection: This method is the most potent of all and can kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, mycobacteria, and some spores. It is used to disinfect critical items such as surgical instruments.

Sterilization for Healthcare Facilities

Unlike disinfection, which kills most microorganisms but not all, sterilization is a process that eliminates all forms of microbial life. Medical instruments that come into contact with sterile tissues or body fluids must undergo sterilization to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.

There are several methods for sterilizing medical equipment:

• Steam sterilization: Also known as autoclaving, this method uses high-pressure steam to kill microorganisms on heat-resistant medical instruments.
• Chemical sterilization: This method involves using chemical agents to destroy all forms of microbial life. It is suitable for heat-sensitive equipment that cannot undergo steam sterilization, such as endoscopes and respiratory therapy equipment.

Sanitization for Healthcare Facilities

Sanitization refers to the process of reducing the number of microorganisms on surfaces to a safe level. Unlike disinfection and sterilization, sanitization does not necessarily kill all microorganisms but significantly reduces their numbers to prevent the spread of infection.

In healthcare settings, sanitization is essential in non-critical areas such as waiting rooms, hallways, and public restrooms. It helps maintain a hygienic environment and reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases.

As you can see, each type of medical cleaning service plays a crucial role in maintaining a safe and sanitary healthcare facility. Disinfection, sterilization, and sanitization all have different levels of effectiveness and are used for specific purposes in healthcare settings. It’s important to understand the difference between these terms that people may often use interchangeably, and know that there are required levels of attention in medical facilities that correlate to each of these.

At DBS Building Solutions, we understand the unique challenges of keeping medical facilities clean and follow strict protocols to ensure that our clients’ environments are always safe and hygienic. Contact us to learn more about proper protocols and services for different types of medical and healthcare buildings.