Richard Norman, managing director of ventilation system cleaning specialist Indepth Hygiene, discusses the importance of ensuring that such systems are properly cleaned in healthcare facilities, especially, he argues, as dust and debris on internal surfaces of ducting are potentially “ideal nutrients” for the growth of microorganisms such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.
In addition he warns that, if not properly and regularly cleaned, grease extract ventilation systems linked to catering facilities are a potential source of danger to hospital patients, staff, and visitors alike.
Never before have those responsible for the maintenance of ventilation systems had more reason to ensure they are maintained in a clean and safe condition. On a fundamental level the National Health Service is charged with the responsibility in its own constitution to ensure “patients are treated by an organisation that provides its services in a clean and safe environment”. The very air that patients, staff, and visitors breathe must be safe and unpolluted. Since the essential function of a ventilation (air conditioning) system is to circulate clean, safe air it is indisputable that those with a particular responsibility for maintaining ventilation systems should ensure that all possible steps are taken to do just that. Unfortunately it is my company’s experience that, with some exceptions, ventilation systems are not being given the priority attention they deserve. Even against a background of greater focus on achieving improved cleanliness under the last Government’s “deep clean” drive, there is little evidence of ventilation systems being included in the programme essentially aimed at reducing the incidence of healthcareassociated infections (HCAIs). Dr Ghasson Shabha, course leader at the School of Property Construction and Planning at Birmingham City University, has published extensively his findings on the link between uncleaned ventilation systems and the spread of HCAI. He firmly maintains that temperature and humidity conditions typically found in ventilation ducting provide excellent opportunities for “bugs” to thrive. Dust and debris on internal surfaces of the ducting invariably contains human hair and skin flakes – ideal nutrients for the growth of microorganisms such as MRSA and C. difficile. In fact there has been evidence in recent hospital surveys of the presence of MRSA microorganisms in ventilation systems. With effective remedial cleaning of internal ducting surfaces it has been shown that these microorganisms can be eliminated.
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