Análise do processo de lavagem e desinfeção de roupas hospitalares: o caso da lavanderia do HUSM

Abstract

Water is the most important element of the nature, fundamental to all existent life. The possibility of its breakdown has influence upon the urgent necessity of its preservation. Human beings, in their individual existential selfishness, are still indifferent in relation to nature signals of possible damages. It is for sure that socio-economical activities need this resource to develop them, and then they need to know how to use it rationally. In this way, this study aims at studying the washing and disinfection process of hospital clothes in order to minimize water consumption besides proposing improvements at HUSM s laundry, considering the descriptive diagnose carried out in this place from October/2007 to February/ 2008. The methodology used was exploratory descriptive quantitative and qualitative, with a case study technique. The data collection was done through applied questionnaires, forms, inspection log books that were answered by respondents who work in this sector and compose this study sample. Aiming at the validation and confirmation of the provided information, photographic registrations, archives and documents checking, besides observations in the workplace studied were carried out. The collected and analyzed data pointed to improvement possibilities in the washing and disinfection process of hospital clothes and to washing type standardization, resulting in a 21,9% of water volume and products use reduction, increasing the clothes quality. Besides that, this study has contributed to reduce effluent liquids with chemical charges production, pointed out existent deficiencies in the laundry and corrected them and presented the possibility of total types of washing automation, proportioning advantages to internal and external costumers, to the institution and also to the environment.