Infection control is part of any health management plan. While healthcare staff are trained on best practice strategies to reduce the risk of infection, cleaning and disinfecting is required whether it is within the hospital or at home.

For out-patients and post-surgical patients, select equipment to assist them in recovering at home while reducing the risk of infection.

We have prepared a "Home Care & Better Infection Control Guide" to help your patients to understand equipment options and pricing (weekly rental pricing and purchase pricing), to allow them to safely recovery at home.

 3 Equipment for Better Infection Control at Home

Shower Chairs and Commodes

When Bathroom equipment is designed and manufactured well, it can significantly improve safety and infection control risk.

Prescription of any equipment requires considering the individual's preferences, safety, and clinical input from a healthcare provider. These criteria must be met to ensure safety. But, what about the hygiene aspects of the equipment? 

Because shower chairs and commodes are continually exposed to wet environments and are in direct contact with the individual, choosing equipment with completely sealed construction will prevent bacteria from entering inside the frame and joints. 

Ergonomic designs with minimal use of hardware fixings mean
Less joints = Fewer gaps = Less infection risk.

Having the ability to decontaminate at high temperatures of up to 85°C, and the ability to use bleach or peroxide-based disinfectants can further improve infection control.

A good bathroom/toileting aid should be simple to use, simple to clean with minimum joints and parts.

When it is easy to keep clean, it is easier to control infection. Choose commodes such as Etac Swift Commode. Its clean design with fewer parts makes cleaning easier, home care more hygienic. Etac Swift Commode is awarded on NSW State Contract CF820.

For example, the Etac Swift Commode comes with removable padding and is designed so it is comfortable for sitting to dress and undress. It's "clean-line" design makes cleaning easier with fewer crevasses to harbour bacteria, therefore reduces infection risk within the home.

Within the bathroom environment, ergonomic design with no welding joins to harbour bacteria should be chosen over shower chairs and shower commodes with hardware screws that have been drilled into the frame. Etac My-Loo raised toilet seat takes seconds to install and it can be wiped clean easily. 

Less joints = Fewer gaps = Less infection risk.

Toileting or showering can become difficult and unsafe during rehabilitation. Choose a stool to use in the shower that is designed with safety, infection prevention and comfort in mind. Hire a shower stool or commode chair on a weekly or monthly rental during your recovery.

When it is easy to keep clean, it is easier to control infection. Choose commodes such as Etac Swift Commode with clean design with fewer parts makes cleaning easier, home care more hygienic. Etac Swift Commode is awarded on NSW State Contract CF820.

You can find out more about options to support home recovery in this Guide to Home Care & Better Infection.

Novis Healthcare provides an extensive range of equipment for trial, hire and purchase. Our range is carefully selected due to its superior design, quality and manufacturing.

Mattress and Bed 

If mobility has become limited, choosing a mattress that has a removable cover, may be beneficial to allow wipe-down cleaning and sanitising in the event of accidental incontinence.

A rotating bed can help individuals to change from a laying down position to sitting, to a swivelled angle position and then assist to stand. Selecting an Avalon Rotating Bed can assist the individual to move from laying in bed to an upright seated position, swivel the bed base around and activate the assisted standing operation all with the use of hand control. Promoting self-mobilisation will ensure that the individual retains independence and movement.

Mattresses, commodes and wheelchairs are all items that come in direct contact with the individual user. Ensure this equipment is cleaned and disinfected correctly.

If the patient has a risk of developing a pressure injury (ulcer) or has an open pressure wound, home care with a medical mattress is essential. Choose an alternating pressure mattress such as CairMax Duo with alternating air cells and the ability to detach the pump for a static re-active foam/air hybrid mattress surface Alternatively, foam mattress with air cells such as CairMax can provide extra support to pressure injury area.

Recovering at home starts with safety. A rotating bed like Avalon can help minimise the risk of injury for your loved one when moving from lying down to sitting to standing. Avalon comes with a removable cover to make cleaning easier.