Environmental Sanitation

Miro, Guada Christy, Patricio, Andrea Mae

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
➢Define the following terms:
▪ Environment
▪ Sanitation
▪ Environmental Sanitation
▪ Pathologic Organism
▪ Nosocomial Infection
➢State the purpose or importance of environmental sanitation.
➢Discuss the different factors affecting environmental sanitation.
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
➢Enumerate the principles involved in environmental sanitation in relation to:
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Microbiology
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Body mechanics
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Time and energy
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

➢Demonstrate beginning skills in:

• Dusting varnished and unvarnished furniture
• Care of bedpans and urinals
• Cleaning of sputum cups and kidney basin
• Care of rubber goods such as:
❖Tubings
❖Rubber sheets
❖Gloves
 Definition of Terms
➢Environment - includes all possible conditions affecting patients and the settings in which their
health care needs occur. There is a continuous interaction between a patient and the
environment. This interaction has positive and negative effects on the person’s level of health
and health care needs
➢Sanitation - World Health Organization (WHO) defines sanitation as group of methods to
collect human excreta and urine as well as community waste waters in a hygienic way, where
human and community health is not altered.
➢Environmental Sanitation - means the art and science of applying sanitary, biological and
physical science principles and knowledge to improve and control the environment and factors
therein for the protection of the health and welfare of the public
➢Pathologic Organism – also called pathogens or infectious agents are disease causing organisms.

CATEGORY OF PATHOGENS EXAMPLES OF DISEASES THEY CAUSE

Algae A very rare cause of infections; intoxications (which result from

ingestion of toxins)

Bacteria Anthrax, botulism, cholera, diarrhea, diphtheria, ear and eye

infections, food poisoning, gas gangrene, gonorrhea, hemolytic
uremic syndrome (HUS), intoxications, Legionnaires’ disease,
leprosy, Lyme disease, meningitis, plague, pneumonia, Rocky
Mountain spotted fever, scarlet fever, staph infections, strep
throat, syphilis, tetanus, tuberculosis, tularemia, typhoid fever,
typhus, urethritis, urinary tract infections, whooping cough

Fungi Allergies, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, intoxications,

meningitis, pneumonia, thrush, tinea (ringworm) infections,
yeast vaginitis
 Protozoa African sleeping sickness, amebic dysentery, babesiosis,
Chagas’ disease, cryptosporidiosis, diarrhea, giardiasis,
malaria, meningoencephalitis, pneumonia, toxoplasmosis,
trichomoniasis

Viruses Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), “bird

flu,” certain types of cancer, chickenpox, cold sores
(fever blisters), common cold, dengue, diarrhea,
encephalitis, genital herpes infections, German measles,
hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), hemorrhagic
fevers, hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, influenza,

➢ Nosocomial Infection - are classified as infections that originate in the hospital. Nosocomial
infections can either develop during a client’s stay in a facility or manifest after discharge.
Nosocomial microorganisms may also be acquired by personnel working in the facility and
can cause significant illness and time lost from work. Nosocomial infections are a subgroup
of health care–associated infections (HAIs)—those that originate in any health care setting.
 THE PURPOSE OR IMPORTANCE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION

➢Provide a healthy living environment for everyone either patient or health worker
➢Reduce the risk of disease/infectious spreading and
➢To provide safety security and protection of both patients and health workers health
 DIFFERENT FACTORS AFFECTING
ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION

➢Formal training - lack of formal training

➢Economic status - low income, work in heavily polluting industries
➢Water supply - lack of access of water
➢Sanitation Facilities - lack facilities = contaminated environment
➢Climate -can affect disease transmission
➢Hospital Waste Management - considers the basic elements of waste minimization,
segregation, and proper identification of the waste.

• Green - Non Infectious wet waste

• Black - Non infectious dry waste
• Orange - Radioactive waste
• Yellow - Infectious + Pathological
• Yellow with black band - chemical waste including those w/ heavy metals
• Red - sharps and pressurized containers
 PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN ENVIRONMENTAL
SANITATION IN RELATION TO:

Physics Friction in cleaning tables/ environment

Chemistry pollution, reduction of cintamination (chemical impact)

Microbiology correct disinfectant sollution kills microorganism bacteria

Biochemistry biological organisms (human) discipline of chemistry w/

process of occuring in living organisms

Biology biological microorganism that infect

Body mechanics Nurses are required to have an appropriate body posture to
properly perform work activities such as moving medical
equipments and performing the procedures in sanitizing the
environment. Environmental sanitation requires the body
mechanics principle to avoid physical injuries.
Sociology Sociologist analyzes why a certain social issue happens.
Places with poor hygiene and sanitation which falls under
social issue results to a great number of people who are ill.
In order to solve this problem, sanitizing the environment is
the given solution which is effective until the present time.

Psychology Psychology involves many fields of study including health.

In protecting health, nurses should have ideas on improving
environmental sanitation in order to prevent patients from
infectious agents.
Time and Energy Nurses prepares the materials needed before sanitizing the
environment which saves time and uses energy to do the
cleaning.
 BEGINNING SKILLS IN DUSTING VARNISHED AND
UNVARNISHED FURNITURE
Dusting
Definition: Wiping any surface, equipment or article with a piece of dry damp cloth to remove dirt.
Purpose: to provide a hygienic therapeutic environment for the patient

Equipments tray with:

A. For varnished furniture
• dry cloth
B. For unvarnished furniture
• newspaper for lining
• damp cloth
• basin-filled with water
Procedure:

A. For varnished furniture

1. Line the furniture with newspaper on the floor and place the tray on a convenient place also lined with
newspaper
2. Start dusting the topmost area, using a dry cloth from side to side, top to bottom in one direction
following the grains of the wood.
3. Wipe the edge of the furniture from side to side, top to bottom, in one direction.
4. Wipe the corner of the furniture from top to bottom in one direction and the lowermost portion in a
circular motion.
5. Line the table with newspaper and put the drawer on it, and start dusting from the bottom part and the
slide part, wipe the bottom, side to side direction, wipe the side from the farthest to the nearest area.
Return to its original place, maintain the body mechanics while doing the procedure.
6. Open the drawer and start dusting from top to bottom part to side part. Wipe again the bottom part from
top to bottom, side to side in one direction, then wipe the sides from inner to outer part, from top to
bottom, side to side following the grains of wood.
B. For unvarnished furniture
1. Dip the damp cloth with water and squeeze it to remove excess water.
2. Staff cleaning is the topmost area from side to side, top to bottom in one direction following the grain of
the wood.
3. Wipe the edge of the furniture from side to side, top to bottom in one direction.
4. Wipe the sides of the furniture from side to side, top to bottom in one direction.
5. Wipe the corner of the furniture from top to bottom in one direction and the lowermost portion in a circular
motion.
6. Line the table with newspaper and put the drawer on it, and start wiping from the bottom part to the side
part. Maintain body mechanics. Wipe the bottom part from top to bottom , side to side in one direction
from the farther to the nearest area. Return to its original place.
7. Open the lower drawer. Start dusting from bottom part to side part. Wipe again the bottom part from top to
bottom, side to side in one direction . Then wipe the sides from inner to outter part, from top to bottom,
side to side following the grain of the wood.
8. Lastly wipe the door of the drawer from top to bottom, side to side in one direction. Wipe the upper part to
the lower part and close the door. Place the damp clothin the tray. Do after care.
 BEGINNING SKILLS IN CARING OF BEDPANS AND
URINALS
Definition:

A.) BEDPAN- a shallow vessel used for defecation or urination patients confined to bed.
B.) URINAL- a receptable for urine.

Purpose: Proper conditioning of the equipment is important to prevent the contamination

of microorganisms that causes disease. Maintain the cleanliness of the equipment.

Equipment:
1. Tray with bedpan brush or bedpan swabs.
2. short sleeve gown.
3. Bottle of disinfection solution.
4. Dutch cleanser.
5. Several pieces of dusting cloth.
Procedure:

1. prepare the needed material in cleaning the bedpans and urinals.

2. go to the patient’s room and collect the bedpan/urinal.
3. pick up the bedpan/urinal observing the proper body mechanics and holding it at the least
contaminated area
4. If it has contents, put it in the toilet bowl
5. Rinse the bedpan with water starting from the least contaminated area to the most contaminated
area.
6. Pour soap solution starting from the least contaminated area to the most contaminated area.
7. Pour soap at the inner portion and then tilt it. Get a stick with cloth at the tip for cleaning the inner
portion, starting from the sides in a circular motion down to the center.
8. Rinse with water starting from the least contaminated area to the most contaminated area
9. Pour Lysol starting from the side to center
10. Let the disinfectant stay for 10-15 minutes
11. Rinse the bedpan with water
12. Dry the bedpan in the bedpan rack, ready for the next use.
 BEGINNING SKILLS IN CLEANING SPUTUM CUPS
AND KIDNEY BASINS

Sputum cups

Kidney basin (emesis basin)

➢Cleaning sputum cups

Equipment:
• Tray with big basin of disinfectant solution. Creosol solution 5%.
• Medicine glass
• A pitcher of 1% creosol solution
• Sputum cup brush
• Several pieces of dusting cloth
• Sapolio or Cleanser
• Short-sleeved gown
Procedure:

1. Put on the gown.

2. Collect all the sputum cups in a tray.
3. Empty their contents into the hopper. Wash with cold water. Rinse with warm water.
Use brush p.r.n.
4. Place cup in basin of disinfectant solution of 5% Creosol solution for 2 hours.
5. Remove after, clean inside and out with soapy warm water. Remove stains.
6. Rinse with warm water and dry the outside.
BEGINNING SKILLS IN CARING OF RUBBER GOODS

➢ Tubing

➢ Rubber Sheet

➢ Water bags/ caps

➢Care of Rubber Tubings

Equipments:
• Running water
• Soap

Procedure:

1. After use, wash them under running water, holding the eye end upwards and allowing the
water to run through.
2. Clean them with soap and warm water to remove the dirt and grease.
3. Wash them again under running water
➢ Care of Rubber Sheets

1. Place the rubber sheet on a flat surface

2. Wash with soap and water using the brush from the side to center, top to bottom in one direction.
3. Rinse and dry or hang in a shady area
4. Sprinkle powder on sheet when storing
5. Never fold but roll loosely

➢Care of Hot water/caps

1. Wash with soap and water in the inner portion of the bag
2. Clean the outer portion of the bag with soap solution and water by using a brush, following the grains from the
center to side.
3. Dry it on a shady area
4. Clean the cover with soap solution using the brush.
 Sources
Books
• Kozier and Erb's Fundamentals of Nursing - Berman, Audrey [SRG]
• Burton-s-Microbiology-for-the-Health-Sciences-9th-Ed
• Potter and Perry’s Fundamentals of Nursing
• HRSA, 1992
Websites:
• https://www.rnpedia.com/nursing-notes/fundamentals-in-nursing-notes/cleaning-sputum-cups/
• Or. Rev. Stat. 700.010. 2007 acquired from Oregonlaws.org
• Injury and Illness Prevention Program, Appendix 1, Glossary of Terms. San Diego State University. [web document]. Available on the
worldwide web:http://bfa.sdsu.edu/ehs/test.pdf [cited 17.4.2005]
• World Health Organization, Geneva, 1987