Horizontal work surfaces in the decontamination area should be cleaned and disinfected how often?

In the context of decontamination areas, maintaining a clean and disinfected work surface is crucial for ensuring a safe environment for staff and preventing cross-contamination. The correct frequency for cleaning and disinfecting horizontal work surfaces in the decontamination area is ideally multiple times throughout the day to accommodate the high level of contamination risks present.

In this scenario, the most effective practice would involve a higher frequency than once a week, which is insufficient given the nature of the tasks performed in decontamination areas. Surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day, or more frequently depending on the workload and level of activity, to ensure that they remain free of harmful pathogens and debris. Therefore, a protocol that allows for routine cleaning and disinfection aligns with infection control standards and supports safe practices in sterile processing environments. Regularly scheduled cleaning helps mitigate the presence of bioburden, contributing to overall patient safety.