How sanitary is your kitchen? Tips on keeping pests out of food prep areas--and from residents.Preparing three meals a day for your residents is a demanding task. It's no surprise, then, that your nursing home's kitchen is a busy place, as cooks and staff travel in and out to prepare and retrieve these meals. Unfortunately, the kitchen can also be a busy place for flies, cockroaches cockroaches insects which may carry Salmonella spp. in their gut and play a part in the spread of the disease. , and other pests looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. food, water, and shelter. Flies are some of the filthiest insects around. They can carry more than 100 known pathogens, including common sources of foodborne illness such as E. coli E. coli: see Escherichia coli. E. coli in full Escherichia coli Species of bacterium that inhabits the stomach and intestines. E. coli can be transmitted by water, milk, food, or flies and other insects. , Salmonella, and Staphylococcus staphylococcus (stăf'ələkŏk`əs), any of the pathogenic bacteria, parasitic to humans, that belong to the genus Staphylococcus. The spherical bacterial cells (cocci) typically occur in irregular clusters [Gr. . Cockroaches also pose a threat to food safety. They can carry disease-causing organisms that can result in several intestinal diseases, including dysentery dysentery (dĭs`əntĕr'ē), inflammation of the intestine characterized by the frequent passage of feces, usually with blood and mucus. , typhoid fever typhoid fever acute, generalized infection caused by Salmonella typhi. The main sources of infection are contaminated water or milk and, especially in urban communities, food handlers who are carriers. , and cholera. Given the pathogens that flies and cockroaches carry, even an occasional sighting of the pests is grounds for action. Yet by focusing on sanitation, managers can help make their facilities' kitchens less inviting to unwanted invaders in the first place. Pest control specialists typically employ an Integrated Pest Management Integrated Pest Management (IPM), planned program that coordinates economically and environmentally acceptable methods of pest control with the judicious and minimal use of toxic pesticides. (IPM (1) (Impressions Per Minute) Generally refers to document scanners that scan both sides of the page at the same time. Thus, a scanner that scans at 100 ppm (pages per minute) can provide 200 ipm. See ppm and document scanner. ) system to improve overall sanitation. This approach stresses the use of nonchemical methods before turning to pesticides. You can apply some of these steps yourself: * Clean the floor immediately after a food or liquid spill. Food and drink spills are beacons for pests. * Inspect the area around drains, sinks, soda machines, and other appliances for standing water. Many pests need only a small amount of water to survive, so if you find a leaky appliance, report the problem immediately to your maintenance professional. * Consider using an organic drain cleaner in sinks and food preparation areas. Organic cleaners effectively remove grease runoff and other debris that can sustain fruit and drain flies. * Vacuum all cracks and crevices to remove residual food debris. Vacuums equipped with HEPA HEPA abbr. 1. high-efficiency particulate air 2. high-efficiency particulate arresting (high efficiency particulate air) filters are especially effective at removing allergens associated with pests. * Keep storage areas clean and dry. Flies and cockroaches can become a problem with only a few crumbs of food left in the open. Open-backed shelves are the best, as they are the easiest to take apart and wash. * Reduce odors from trash receptacles, since trash odors are powerful pest attractants. Line trash cans and make sure they are tightly sealed. Remove and dispose of trash regularly. Keep dumpsters as far away from the building as possible, and clean and rotate them frequently. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Taking just a few extra steps can help tremendously when it comes to pest prevention, but everyone needs to participate for sanitation to be effective. Make sure your employees understand the key role they play in the overall cleanliness of the facility, and review sanitation measures with them on a regular basis. For advice on a more comprehensive sanitation program, contact your local pest management professional for a free consultation. Adhering to these guidelines will go a long way in keeping your kitchen--and your residents--safe from pests. Frank Meek, BCE BCE abbr. 1. Bachelor of Chemical Engineering 2. Bachelor of Civil Engineering BCE Abbreviation for before the Common Era. , is Technical Director for Orkin, Inc. He is a board-certified entomologist and an acknowledged leader in the field of pest management. Orkin Commercial Services provides pest-management services to more than 250,000 commercial customers, making it one of the largest commercial pest-management providers in North America. For more information, phone (800) 675-4666 or visit www.orkincommercial.com. To send your comments to the author and editors, please e-mail meek0806@nursinghomesmagazine.com. BY FRANK MEEK, BCE |
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