Toilet lids for infection prevention
Lack of toilet lids in hospitals is a patient safety issue and there should be no excuse for not having and using them. First, most patients can and will close the lid before flushing if reminded to do so. In fact, there should be public services announcements in the media that remind us all to close the lid and kids should be taught to do this in school. Second, if a small minority of patients can't or won't close the lid, it's not a reasonable excuse for going lidless in hospitals. This would be like not providing seat belts because some folks can't or won't use them!
So here are my recommendations:
1) Put a plastic, cleanable lid on every toilet and train hospital staff to clean the lid daily
2) Create education campaigns to get patients and staff to close the lid before they flush
3) Put a big "CLOSE BEFORE YOU FLUSH" sign on both sides of the toilet seat in every bathroom in hospitals, including public spaces
4) Help start local "CBYF" campaigns in your cities
5) If hospitals are worried about patients not being able to open or close the lid, they should spend $6400 on this toilet that automatically opens and closes, among other features. Given the cost of HAI and the amount we spend on other HAI prevention interventions, the $6400 will easily be cost-effective or there's even a touch-free sensor toilet seat for ~$100.
It's time we give a crap about having and closing toilet lids.
image source: http://www.dudeiwantthat.com/household/bathroom/friendly-toilet-seat-reminder.asp
I actually had to censor this post from my 8 year old who is peeking behind my shoulder as I type.
ReplyDeleteFixed
DeleteI am so behind you on this issue! This is such a simple preventative fix, yet hospitals as well as schools can't be bothered to change policies or update fixtures! This has been a pet peeve of mine and I would love to see the toilet seat issue resolved and changed! Administrators don't want to be bothered with this as they aren't the ones that are in direct contact with the patient or medical staff. However, they wouldn't want you to take their toothbrush and clean a toilet with it so they should see that this is basically what they are letting happen by not installing lids on all toilet seats in the hospital. Studies have been done on how disgusting it truly is to flush a toilet and not have a seat down. Airborne bacteria is spread throughout the room when a toilet is flushed without a lid down! This is the 21st century yet our practices in hygiene are so outdated! Thanks for a great post and I love the text on the seat you posted!
DeleteAs someone with a compromised immune system(meds) thank you,thank you, thank you....
DeleteFor me hospitals can be a life saver but this stuff is now something I have to have in my to do list along with lots of others I never gave thought to...obviously hospital administrators still don't think of it.
Plus most hospitals use tank less toilets (NO idea why) so they rely on very high pressure to cleanse the bowel this assures total aerosolization of the contents. Furthermore the handle is right in the direct line of attack so if you don't lower the lip your shirt sleeve is guaranteed to get hit. Washing your hands won't help your clothing so you pass the buggies around all day long and since most people use their right to flush congratulations on creating a "handshake epidemic" all day long even if you don't actually shake if you arm bump or fist bump you still have the sleeve involved. I say we give a crap about giving a crap and save some money and lives in the process Dr D
ReplyDeleteThe hospital that I frequent for treatment has no toilet lids either. I just place one of those sheets (I forget what they are called) on the seat before I flush to prevent the spray from going everywhere. I also use my foot to flush if the handle is accessible. It may not be the perfect solution, but I'm sure that it helps.
ReplyDeleteI was stunned beyond belief when Cinemark installed hand dryers that blow air from your just washed hands onto your face. I am guessing that a certain number of hands still have stool bacteria on them, which is then blown into the face of the user, and, likely, onto nearby faces. I, for one, refuse to use them.
ReplyDeleteHas an research been done to determine if there are more patient falls in the restroom from reaching to open/close the toilet lid? Just curious. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNot that I know of; however with automatic lids this wouldn't be an issue.
DeleteThere are now self closing toilet lids. So no excuse other than cost!
ReplyDeleteBusinesses started this nonsense in the '80s to prevent employees from having a place to sit down other than for the usual.
ReplyDeleteHypocrisy at its best. The janitorial industry in America still treats restroom sanitation along the same lines as vacuuming or any other task. Shame on you...I quite the industry on these very grounds.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have a (somewhat more polite) sign in my bathroom, which guests routinely ignore- the bad habits of a lifetime, probably. If I can't get friends who are aware of my immune deficiency to comply, I hesitate to think of the likelihood of getting cooperation from the general public. Nonetheless, I truly appreciate your efforts at education. Recently, my mum was forced to share a commode overnight with a patient who had diarrhea. The staff did not wipe it down between patients. Re the self-closing lids: unless one is invented that prevents flushing before it is fully closed, I am afraid they close too slowly to be of use in preventing aerosolization, although they may mitigate it.
ReplyDeleteI am a believer of this. Many years ago an educator came to our facility to teach on this very matter. It shocked me into never leaving the lid open after flushing. I've been to many facilities since and there are so many that provide toilets without lids. The public toilets are as bad, although with lids, they are never used. In my house, it's a rule! I have educated my family and the staff also. It's surprising how many people and nurses do not know about this.
ReplyDeleteThey should be designed so they cannot be flushed until the lid is shut
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