Study Finds Dirty Wheelchairs a Significant Source of Skin Problems

Environmental services (EVS) workers cleaning patient areas in healthcare settings might want to look beyond beds, floors, and other high-touch surfaces and consider wiping down wheelchairs. A recent study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine has found that a vast majority of those questioned—85%—experienced skin problems related to their use of a wheelchair.

The study was conducted between May and June 2020, specifically surveying adult wheelchair users in Saudi Arabia. Pressure ulcer was the most frequently reported skin condition (54%), followed by traumatic wounds, fungal infections, and hand skin dryness and thickening.

According to Harvard Medical School, as of July 2022, more than five million Americans use a wheelchair. Hannah Jonasse of ProNatural Brands, LLC, marketers of citric-acid-based cleaning solutions, has the following tips for keeping wheelchairs clean and safe for users.

• Clean wheelchairs daily or, if used by multiple individuals, after each use.
• Sanitizers are usually sufficient to reduce the number of pathogens on a wheelchair to safe levels. However, if multiple individuals use the same wheelchair, disinfection is necessary. A disinfectant eliminates all pathogens as listed on the product’s label. 
• Avoid using alcohol-based sanitizers or disinfectants, as they can cause skin irritations and rashes. Synthetic detergents, solvents, and bleach should also be avoided, as they can both irritate the skin and damage the wheelchair’s materials.
• Citric-acid-based sanitizers and disinfectants have proven effective in cleaning wheelchairs and are less likely to cause skin irritations. Moreover, at least one citric-acid disinfectant is EPA-certified.
• Focus on cleaning the armrests, handles, and other components frequently touched by the user and caregivers.
• Some wheelchairs have joysticks. These must also be cleaned. To protect the device’s electronics, apply the solution to the cleaning cloth first, then wipe.

“Finally, do not forget to clean the wheels,” Jonasse advised. “They collect pathogens from the floor, [which can] be passed on to the wheelchair user’s hands.”