Stoma care during the COVID-19 pandemic
Cleaning and caring for your stoma is a daily routine and it is important to do this hygienically. A step-by-step guide is provided to help you set up a good routine.
Prepare the area and set up the space:
- Wash your hands.
- Designate an area solely for stoma care.
- Clean all the surface areas within your designated area with an antibacterial cleanser.
- Clean any objects you may touch and use, such as a torch and mirror with a disinfectant wipe.
- Set the space up for all the products you are going to need on one side – this will be the ’clean area’. Place a lint-free wipe or tissue on the surface if needed and use clean containers for your products and equipment.
- On the opposite side set up the ’dirty area’ for used products. Use containers or bowls lined with a tissue or paper towel to collect your used products for disposal and dirty equipment for cleaning.
- Wash your hands.
Follow your normal stoma care routine:
Open and place the new devices and clean equipment you are planning to use in the clean area.
- Remove the products from the stoma as usual and place on the ‘dirty side’.
- Wash your hands and proceed to clean the stoma.
- Clean any devices you will need such as a tube or button, use disposable swabs if possible and apply lubricant (if needed) with a disposable swab. Put the clean tube or button in the ‘clean area’ and the swabs in the ‘dirty area’.
- Wash your hands.
- Apply your products as usual.
- Place all used items from the ’dirty area’ into a bag and place in the bin for disposal.
- Clean all equipment that you have used and place in clean sealed container.
Sources:
Hennessy M, Bann D, Patel V, Saadi R, Krempl G, Deschler D, et al. A Commentary on the Management of Total Laryngectomy Patients. Special Collection: COVID-19 Preprints: Authorea; 2020.
Coronavirus outbreak and how laryngectomee and neck breathers can prevent getting the infection. Posted by Itzhak Brook MD, 25th January 2020 on www.dribrook.blogspot.com