How to Clean and Sanitize Thyroid Shields
Thyroid shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE) like lead aprons are frequently used in radiology and interventional surgery to protect against harmful scatter radiation. However, they’ll accumulate dirt, stains, smells, and bacteria during use. Not only is it unsanitary (and gross!) to re-wear PPE that has not been properly cleaned and disinfected, but wearers can also risk contracting infections like Ringworm and Staph, which can contribute to surgical site infections.
How do you clean and sanitize thyroid shields and lead aprons? It requires a detailed approach that goes beyond just using wipes and sprays. You must perform deep cleaning to disinfect garments that may harbor dangerous microorganisms or bacteria.
We’ll provide you with all the steps in this guide and explain how services like ours at Radiological Care Services (RCS) can help. Keep reading for all the details.
How Should Lead Aprons Be Cleaned?
Lead aprons and thyroid shields require a similar cleaning process due to the microorganisms and bacteria that can build up on them in medical settings.
To start, you should perform daily wipe-downs for any PPE worn during procedures. Wipes can help remove dirt, debris, and germs between quarterly deep cleanings. Ensuring patient and staff safety requires strict adherence to cleaning and maintenance protocols.
However, wipes and sprays aren’t enough to clean lead aprons and thyroid shields thoroughly. Quarterly deep cleaning is necessary to remove all microbes that can still build up on the garment’s surface, even if your team is wiping them down daily. Proper care of these protective garments is essential to maintain their effectiveness.
Why Is Deep Cleaning Necessary?
One of the key culprits that you need deep cleaning to remove is biofilm. Biofilm is a community of microorganisms that attach to each other and surfaces, such as medical devices and protective garments like thyroid shields and lead aprons.
Biofilms are often pathogenic. The National Institutes of Health reported that 80% of chronic infections and 65% of microbial infections are associated with biofilm formation. Therefore, protective garments must be inspected regularly and have any present biofilms removed through deep cleaning for safety and infection prevention.
Unfortunately, wipes and sprays aren’t strong enough to remove biofilm on their own. They’ll essentially spread them around the garment’s surface. At best, common disinfectants may remove the top layer of the bacteria, but the bottom layer will remain to feed and regrow.
Dr. Kathleen Jones echoed that sentiment, explaining that when facilities only use wipes and don’t completely remove the debris, they create an environment where the remaining bacteria can thrive.
Lead Aprons and Thyroid Shields Often Aren’t Cleaned Thoroughly Enough
Clinical studies show that protective garments in medical facilities can harbor microorganisms because of improper cleaning practices.
A study by Dr. Jaber from Wayne State analyzed 25 lead aprons, finding that 84% were colonized with Staphylococcus aureus and tinea species (ringworm), and 12% were colonized with MRSA.
Another study by AORN surveyed 173 healthcare workers, finding that:
78% reported wearing soiled protective garments
30.1% mentioned thyroid shield odors
The main culprit was a lack of proper cleaning protocols. 48% admitted to never spot-cleaning garments, and 21.4% said that aprons and shields never underwent standard department cleaning.
How to Disinfect an Apron
Lead apron and thyroid shield deep cleaning and disinfection require a detailed process to ensure that all microorganisms are removed. Our process for cleaning and disinfection at RCS goes as follows:
1. Pre-Service Evaluation
We perform an initial evaluation on all lead garments that enter our facility. That includes identifying areas that need extra attention during cleaning and any repairs required, such as broken buckles, worn velcro, or torn straps.
2. Cleaning and Sanitization
We start the cleaning process by applying an EPA-registered product to the garment’s surface using friction. The CDC states that friction must be used during cleaning and disinfection to remove dirt, microorganisms, and biofilms effectively.
After deep cleaning, we apply a garment-safe sanitizing agent to eradicate microorganisms remaining on the garment’s surface. This process ensures that 99.9% of microorganisms are removed.
3. Post-Service Evaluation
Following cleaning and disinfection, we perform a final ATP test on all garments to ensure compliance.
How to Perform Regular Daily Cleanings
As mentioned, you should perform regular daily cleanings for all lead aprons and thyroid collars worn during procedures. While it doesn’t replace quarterly deep cleaning and disinfection, it does reduce dirt, germs, and debris and slows the buildup of bacteria and biofilms.
To perform daily cleanings, you should:
Use disposable wipes with a microfiber cloth that applies friction. These will help reduce bacteria and biofilms without damaging the garment’s material.
Thoroughly wipe down the surface of the garments, even areas that look clean. Harmful micro-bacteria often aren’t apparent to the eye, so it’s important to not miss any surface areas.
Find an undisturbed environment to hang or lay the garments flat to dry. Make sure they aren’t bunched, creased, or folded to prevent damage to the internal lead layer.
Recommended Cleaning Products for Thyroid Shields
We recommend using Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes or Ecolab Quaternary Based Wipes for daily cleaning. Soft cloth materials should be used to prevent damage to the shield’s protective material while ensuring thorough cleaning.
You must ensure chemical safety when working with lead aprons and thyroid shields. Using harsh chemicals or cleaning products that are too strong can damage the garment’s surface or the internal lead lining. Some common cleaning solutions you should avoid are any wipes or sprays that contain alcohol or bleach. Bleach and alcohol will damage the outer fabric of thyroid shields and lead aprons.
Some common cleaning solutions you should avoid are any wipes or sprays that contain alcohol or bleach. Bleach and alcohol will damage the outer fabric of thyroid shields and lead aprons.
Routine Cleaning and Disinfection Schedule
It’s important to follow a consistent cleaning schedule for lead apron maintenance. As mentioned earlier, it’s recommended to:
Wipe down all protective garments daily after use
Perform quarterly deep cleanings for all protective garments
Medical facilities should train staff members on the proper process for daily garment wipe-downs and emphasize its importance so it isn’t skipped or taken lightly.
While quarterly cleanings can be performed in-house, many facilities find it very costly or time-consuming. Rather than dedicating staff and funds to thoroughly clean garments, it’s often more efficient to outsource it.
We can assist with your quarterly garment cleanings at RCS. Our process follows the recommendations of governing bodies like the CDC to ensure compliance, and we make it easy for you to send garments back and forth to us for an efficient solution.
Additionally, our RADCOMPLY™ inventory management software can help organize the entire process. It’ll help you track your garments and manage your schedule so you don’t miss a quarterly cleaning date.
Conclusion and Best Practices
Quarterly deep cleanings for lead aprons are one of the essential safety protocols to protect your patients and staff. The buildup of bacteria and biofilm can cause infections and other adverse health issues, so it isn’t something that should be taken lightly.
Make sure clinicians and other staff members are following best practices throughout your facility. Always wipe down lead aprons and thyroid guards after use with the recommended wipes, and make sure you schedule quarterly deep cleanings to eradicate all microorganisms on the garment’s surface.
Other Best Practices for Lead Apron and Thyroid Shield Maintenance
Alongside proper care and cleaning practices, there are some other maintenance options and best practices to keep your aprons and thyroid shields in good condition. That includes:
Storage: Avoid folding lead garments since it can cause cracks, holes, or tears that may damage the internal lead layer. Instead, it’s best to hang your garments on a sturdy storage rack or lay them flat during transport.
Inspections: We recommend inspecting lead aprons and thyroid shields annually using X-ray scanning. A radiological scan can detect even minor damage that isn’t visibly noticeable. It’s important to catch any small pinholes early. A study from the Journal of Health Physics found that minor tears can increase by up to 270% in 10 months.
Repairs: When damage to aprons and thyroid shields is detected during inspection, it’s important to repair it quickly. We can perform garment repairs alongside our annual inspection and deep cleaning services at RCS.
Disposal: Eventually, lead aprons and thyroid shields will wear out and must be disposed of following proper protocols. We can assist with garment disposal at RCS, ensuring that all guidelines are followed for environmental and human health and safety.
Partner with RCS to Keep Your Garments Clean and Effective
We’re here to help with all your garment maintenance needs at Radiological Care Services (RCS). Our services are efficient and easy to manage, and we follow regulations from governing bodies like the CDC and AORN. When you keep your garments properly protected, you ensure a better environment for your staff and patients.
Our services include:
Quarterly deep cleaning and disinfection
Annual X-ray inspections
Garment repairs
Garment disposal
Inventory management with our RADCOMPLY™ software
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with efficient and effective garment maintenance solutions.
