Partnership Between Hospital EVS and IP Staff More Important Than Ever

In the past, the importance of environmental services (EVS) staff was sometimes overlooked, although this department has an important role when hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) emerge. During the pandemic, hospital EVS workers have been in the spotlight as their work in cleaning hospital surfaces has been crucial in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19 between patients and health care staff. According to Infection Control Today, it is vital that infection preventionists (IPs) work together with EVS workers to implement routine practice metrics for quality assurance checks.

IPs should keep the following points in mind when working with and training EVS workers:

• Chemical Disinfectants: Ensure EVS workers have access to bleach and sporicidal disinfectants against pathogens such as Clostridioides difficileand Candida auris.
• Education: Routinely educate EVS staff on best practices for the prevention of the transmission of infectious diseases. Provide information on the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), offering practice sessions so staff feel comfortable wearing PPE.
• Notification: Put a system in place for notifying EVS staff when they are disinfecting an isolation room so they can take extra precautions.
• Disinfection Methods: Familiarize EVS workers with two common methods to reduce surface contamination after manual cleaning: ultraviolet (UV) light devices and hydrogen peroxide spray systems.
• Quality Assurance: Implement a routine practice for quality assurance checks using methods such as blacklight inspections and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) monitors.
• COVID-19 and EVS: Keep the EVS team informed on the hospital’s COVID-19 cases to maintain trust and make sure the team is aware of the positive impact it is bringing to the situation every day.