Ice Machines
Some aged care facilities use ice-making machines, which, although convenient, can become contaminated with infectious organisms if not used or cleaned appropriately. The following points must be considered
Handling of Ice
Wash hands before obtaining ice
Do not use your hands to handle the ice
Using a smooth-surface ice scoop to dispense ice
Keep the ice scoop on a chain short enough that the scoop cannot touch the floor, or keep the scoop on a clean, hard surface when not in use
Avoid storing the ice scoop in the ice bin
Storage
Ice for clinical or therapeutic use must not come from the same machine as ice for human consumption
Do not store pharmaceuticals or medical solutions on ice intended for consumption
Ice dispensing machines are preferable to ice that requires removal from bins or chests with a scoop
Cleaning and Maintenance
Ice-making machines and ice storage chests should be adequately maintained and regularly cleaned
To maintain infection prevention standards, a maintenance programme must be implemented, including the flushing, cleaning and disinfecting of the ice machines and their dispensers as per the manufacturers' instructions
Legislation
Refer to national, state and territory guidelines for water testing of water supply to ice machines