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ER sanitary?

Do they clean ER beds after each patient? Or after a certain amount? The one i was admitted to had no sheets and was a vinyl like material. With what do they clean with? I also laid my fabric purse on the bed and scared to cross contaminate knowing there are bacteria present in hospitals like MRSA or Strep...

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Avatar universal
They do clean beds after each patient (at least they're supposed to).  I'm not sure what the chemical is they clean with, but vinyl doesn't grow bacteria very well and the stuff they clean with is pretty strong.  I wouldn't worry about picking up something nasty on your purse.  MRSA is out in the general population, as is strep and any number of other nasty bacteria.  Putting your bag on the ground is probably way worse in terms of germs than putting it down on an ER bed for a minute.
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Avatar universal
The ambulances I have been on do clean the stretcher after every patient, and put new sheets on.  The interior does get wiped down regularly, and always after someone bled on it or threw up on it.  The other things I'm not sure about.  They don't sanitize the stethoscopes or the blood pressure cuff, though.  Still, unless you're cut, you're unlikely to get a raging infection from that.  It's still probably better, or at least on par with, things like doorknobs in any public place, or any public area that gets touched a lot and not cleaned regularly with harsh chemicals or a lot of scrubbing and soap and water.
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144586 tn?1284666164
Depends on the hospital. There is an infection control designee in every hospital responsible for insuring this is done. Good practice would dictate this be done.  In the Veteran's Administration Hospitals I have been involved with they have been meticulous in this respect. On the other hand I will venture to say in any ambulance in the United States if you asked, you would find the interior ansd the cot and the ambu-bag and the endotracheal spoon and the bandage scissors were never sanitized. One shortfall in hospitals is a failure to sanitize the buttons and controls on the televisions from patient to patient, as well as the handrails on the bed.
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Avatar universal
They clean them
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Avatar universal
Very true, thank you!
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