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Re: I-131 MCA Patient Room Decon
At 08:29 AM 2/13/96 -0600, you wrote:
>Our patient load has increased to the point to where we are seeking ways
>to radiologically release our treatment rooms faster after the patient
>has been released. We are primarily having problems with the toilet and
>sink traps. We advise the patient to flush the toilet 3 times after use
>and to rinse the sink for 30-45 seconds after use.We currently allow
>Chlorox to remain in the bowl overnight. Is there any other methods we
>might try or is anyone out there using any chemical means to expedite
>cleanup. We currently allow Chlorox to remain in the bowl overnight.
>Mark E. Campbell
>Health Physicist Supervisor
>Radiation Safety Division
>University of Alabama at Birmingham
>445 Community Health Services Building
>933 South 19th Street
>Birmingham, AL. 35294-2041
>(205) 934-9345 - FAX (205) 934-7487
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We have found that the porcelain cleaners the housekeeping staff uses works
quite well for the toilet and sink. We also use surgical scrub brushes
(with providone-iodine in the brush) to scrub the porcelain services that
some on my staff feel does the best job (quick and reliable) - one draw back
is that it may stain some surfaces. One institution lines the inside toilet
bowl with aluminium foil. We tried it with good but mixed results. We now
cover the toilet bowl with a large loose fitting plastic bag (taped down as
best one can) and then cut a hole in the bag such that the plastic
surrounding the hole lies in the water. So far this has worked better than
anything else we have tried. Decon has been greatly reduced - sometimes
just flushing the toilet a few times is enough to decon it.
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Sim Shanks, RSO shankss@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu
Georgetown University (202) 687-4712
Office of Environmental Health and Safety fax (202) 687-5046
3900 Reservoir Road, N.W.
Washington DC 20007