Latin America. Hospital hygiene has been established as one of the main obstacles to preventing healthcare-linked infections.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 5% and 10% of hospitalized patients could contract a hospital infection that could be prevented through appropriate cleaning and disinfection protocols.

Fundamental protocols to prevent infections

Health facilities are constantly exposed to multi-resistant bacteria and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, which makes it essential to apply cleaning practices in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Health and the CCSS. Among these are the Manual of cleaning and disinfection procedures in environmental areas and surfaces and the Institutional Standards and Procedures for the Prevention and Control of Nosocomial (Hospital) Infections. These documents set out the methods, products, types of cleaning, and recommended frequency.

Grupo EULEN Costa Rica, with certified and audited experience in hospital cleaning, has provided services to institutions such as the Hospital de Los Chiles, the Marcial Fallas and Solón Núñez clinics, and for five years, to the San Rafael de Alajuela Hospital, which serves more than 637,666 people.

Case Study

The San Rafael Hospital in Alajuela stood out for being the first center in Costa Rica to report a confirmed case of COVID-19.   Faced with this circumstance, Grupo EULEN implemented emergency protocols such as intensive cleaning in transit areas of suspected cases and nebulization with quaternary ammonium, a broad-spectrum disinfectant effective against viruses, bacteria and fungi.

 This procedure simplifies disinfection in hard-to-reach areas and ensures uniform coverage, surpassing traditional techniques in efficiency.   The measures taken helped limit the spread of the virus.

"To date, no incidents of the spread of viruses, bacteria or infectious agents have been reported, demonstrating the effectiveness of specialized and well-executed cleaning. Currently, we have more than 80 employees in this hospital, guaranteeing continuous cleaning and sanitization, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," Vargas added.

Rainy season: increased risk of respiratory diseases

"This season, at Grupo EULEN we are intensifying our actions to ensure clean, safe and pathogen-free hospital environments." Currently, the risks of respiratory diseases are increasing, so we strengthen our cleaning and disinfection protocols, using the best existing techniques and technology. Our duty is to safeguard the health of patients, health personnel and our entire work team, actively contributing to community well-being and disease prevention," Vargas said.

Hospital hygiene continues to be a crucial component for the proper functioning of healthcare facilities.  Regular disinfection of public areas and places considerably reduces the danger of spreading contagious microorganisms, revalidating its role as an essential instrument of protection in health care.