Cleaning and Disinfection of Health Care Facilities

Course Overview

CSA Z317.12 is a new Standard published in 2020, intended to standardize evidence-based practices for environmental cleaning and disinfection into one national standard. The Standard is intended for all HCF providing healthcare services for both inpatient and outpatient services.

The course explores the role environmental cleaning and disinfection plays in preventing and controlling infections in health care facilities, along with its impact on the safety and wellbeing of patients, personnel, and visitors.

Learning Objectives

After taking this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss fundamentals of infection prevention and control measures
• Identify infection prevention measures used to break the chain of transmission
• Implement routine practices and additional precautions to ensure patient and personnel safety
• Select and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for routine practices and additional precautions
• Explain the importance of environmental cleaning and disinfection and the difference between methods
• Identify and select cleaning and disinfection methods and technologies for different areas and surfaces
• Discuss the components of a waste management and pest control program
• Describe how to implement a quality management system for environmental cleaning

Target Audience

This course is intended for all healthcare providers required to direct, perform, and supervise the cleaning and disinfection of the clinical environment and non-critical patient care equipment.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Environmental services (housekeeping) management
• Environmental services (housekeeping) personnel
• Infection Control Specialists
• Assistant Directors of Care
• Nurse Managers
• Clinical Leaders
• Facilities, Plant Operations
• Accrediting organizations
• Public Health Investigators
• Occupational Health and Safety professionals

What is Included

CSA Z317.12:20, Cleaning and disinfection of health care facilities Standard

Course Outline

• Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Fundamentals
• Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection
• Health and Safety
• Pest Control and Waste Handling
• Education Requirements
• Quality Management Systems

Florentina Belu (Ina) RN BScN

Florentina, is a graduate of Ryerson University, currently working as Manager of MDRD and Surgical Infrastructure at Unity Health Toronto. She is CIC certified since 2012 and holds a CSAO Certificate in Medical Device Reprocessing Techniques. 

In recent years, she has undertaken a range of projects in the community, including IPAC LTC Lead for West Toronto and Downtown East and Content Specialist with the CSA Group for the development of training products and materials. Ina has been part of the faculty group for the IPAC Canada course for the last seven years.

Merlee Steele-Rodway

Merlee is a Registered Nurse with over 40 years of experiences that included Neonatal Intensive Care, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR). 

Merlee’s devotion to these healthcare fields has led her to provide consultation and education to her colleagues ensuring transfer of her knowledge and continued promotion of safe patient care. Merlee has been engaged with CSA revising their online Community MDR Courses.

Merlee was the recipient of the 3M Champion of Infection Prevention and Control Award in 2019 from IPAC-Canada. She has been a long-time member of the IPAC-Canada’s Online Education Advisory Board. 

Merlee is a founding member and past president of the Canadian Association of Medical Device Reprocessing. Merlee is active on numerous national IPAC & MDR committees and is the current co-chair of the Canadian Standards Association Z314-18 Technical Committee.

Required Readings

CSA Z317.12:20, Cleaning and disinfection of health care facilities standard

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