In healthcare facilities, hygiene is an indisputable priority for patient safety. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect not only patient health but also hospital reputation and insurance costs. For this reason, both the efficacy and the surface compatibility of the disinfectants and cleaning products used must be chosen carefully.
When choosing surface disinfectants, products tested according to the EN 14885 standard and approved as bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal should be preferred. Alcohol-based rapid hand antiseptics are critical when handwashing is not possible; these products should be checked for compliance with the EN 1500 and EN 12791 standards.
Medical textiles and waste management cannot be overlooked either. Consumables (gloves, gowns, masks) must be single-use and disposed of in accordance with the medical waste regulation. Color coding in mop and cloth systems prevents cross-contamination: separating them as red for toilet / urinal areas, yellow for patient rooms, blue for general areas and green for the kitchen is an approach compliant with ISO 15489.
