Conclusion
The Final Results of Growth:
| 100%bleach 0% water | 3mm |
| 90% bleach 10% water | 3mm |
| 80% bleach 20% water | 3 mm |
| 70% bleach 30% water | 2 mm |
| 60% bleach 40% water | 2mm |
| 50% bleach 50% water | 2 mm |
| 40% bleach 60% water | 1 mm |
| 30% bleach 70% water | 0.5 mm |
| 20% bleach 80% water | 0 mm |
| 10% bleach 90% water | 0 mm |
| 0% bleach 100% water | 0 mm |
| Entrance Doorknob | 0 |
| Office Doorknob | 9 |
| Children’s Toys | 25 |
| Countertop | 3 |
| Examination Bed | 14 |
1. My hypothesis was wrong. The minimum concentration of bleach and water needed to kill bacteria is 80% bleach and 20% water (8 bleach: 2 water = 4 bleach: 1 water) This is the recommended dilution of bleach and water that should be used in cleaning everyday places that do not relate to health care. In doctor’s offices I recommend 100% bleach because it works faster, as shown in table 1.
2. Toys are seen in many doctor’s offices waiting rooms. These toys are prime breeding for bacteria and illnesses. The cleaners do probably not clean the toys and sick children who come into the office play with the toys and leave their germs behind. I would recommend there be no toys in doctor’s waiting rooms; maybe only books for the improvement of heath care.
3. I swabbed two door knobs, one as patients come into the office and the doorknob used by nursing staff, doctors, and patients. Patients’ hands carry more bacteria as they come into the office then when they leave because of sanitizing solutions. Also doctors and nurses hands are cleaner. This is because they continually wash hands before seeing each patient. Therefore I recommend that all doctors’ offices should continue to encourage all patients to “cleanse” hands as they enter the office and that doctors and nurses should continue to wash hands between patients.
4. The countertop and examination table showed growth of bacteria most likely because of the wrong concentration of bleach to water used by cleaners or not cleaning the examination table daily because it is covered by a paper, which is changed after each patient leaves.
5. I presented my findings to the cleaners in the building and gave them my recommendations of ideally using 100% bleach (wearing gloves) to sanitize the rooms.
6. 100% bleach is corrosive and can harm many objects. It is safer to use 80% bleach and 20% water on objects that cannot handle 100% bleach in health care offices.