Operating Room Cleaning

Under supervision

- Prof. Dr. Mohamed Latif, CEO of the Egyptian Health Council

 Dr. Kawthar Mahmoud, Head of the Egyptian Nursing Syndicate - Member of the Senate

Prepared by

• Clean towels.
• Clean brush.
• Mop and two buckets (one with soap and water, the other with clean water for rinsing).
• A bucket with water and disinfectant solution.

Procedure:

1. Every morning, the worker cleans the walls, operating table, floor, and scrub sink using soap, water, and a clean, dry towel. The cleaning water is disposed of, and all tools are stored properly.
2. The worker cleans suction bottles, surgical lights, and betadine dispensers with soap and water, then disinfects them with 5,000 ppm chlorine solution.
3. Between cases, the worker removes waste from the operating room, ensuring bags are sealed and labeled with the room number.
4. The worker cleans and disinfects the operating table using a 5,000 ppm diluted chlorine solution.
5. The circulating nurse cleans and disinfects the instrument table and anesthesia machine before and after the surgery using 5,000 ppm diluted chlorine solution.
6. In case of blood spills, the worker follows the hospital’s blood spill protocol.

• Clean towels.
• Stiff brush.
• Mop and two buckets (one with warm water and disinfectant, the other for rinsing).
• A bucket with water and disinfectant.

(This procedure is best performed by two people.)

Procedure:

1. Thoroughly clean all furniture, including wall-mounted or ceiling-fixed equipment.
2. Move all furniture to the center of the room.
3. Clean the walls, starting from the entrance near the door, working from top to bottom in a circular motion. Also, clean doors and windows.
4. Move the furniture back to the side of the room near the door.
5. Clean and rinse half of the floor, then dry it.
6. Apply water and disinfectant between the cleaned and uncleaned areas, moving the furniture over the disinfected area.
7. Clean the remaining half of the floor using the same method.
8. Clean all cleaning tools used in the process. (Only clean tools should be used for cleaning.)

• A designated linen disposal bag for use before the surgery begins.

Procedure:

1. Remove all used linens after the surgery.
2. Immediately after the operation, the sterile nurse or surgeon removes patient covers, as well as their gown and gloves.
3. Ensure the metal wristband on the patient is removed.
4. Remove metal clips from surgical drapes to facilitate laundry processing.
5. Ensure that all sharp instruments (such as scalpels) are removed from the patient.
6. The surgical gown should be folded inside out before placing it in its designated disposal bag.
7. All used items, including linens, tools, instruments, basins, and IV stands, should be cleaned and returned to their proper places.
8. After all linens are removed, they should be placed in a designated laundry bag, sealed, and sent for cleaning.
   (This prevents cross-contamination between patients.)
9. No linens should be removed from the OR until the procedure is fully completed.
10. If a plastic or metal container is used for collecting linens, it must be cleaned with detergent before reuse.