Hello!

Our hospital’s current pump cleaning policy is to have RNs or Mothers wipe the pump body using wipes containing CaviCide before and after each use as instructed by the manufacturer and recommended by HMBANA’s Best Practices.   Recently,  Infection Control has been suggesting that they would like amend our policy and  require housekeeping to “disinfect” our NICU breast pumps between users by taking them out of the NICU, cleaning them, allowing to dry, and covering them with a clean plastic bag before returning them to the NICU.     For what it’s worth, our (Level III) NICU has periodic MRSA outbreaks and this push for change may be related – though we/they don’t have concerns or problems with kit cleaning, or with contaminated milk. 

I can’t find any literature suggesting why this cleaning practice would be necessary / beneficial - if it exists, I would be grateful to be pointed towards the papers.  We only have 6 pumps to share between 25-40 moms and physically removing them from the unit for cleaning would be a logistical nightmare.  I’ve searched the Lactnet Archives and this question seems to come up from time to time, I’m hoping for some wisdom / ammunition.  


Many Thanks!
Dara Barnett


Dara Barnett, RN, IBCLC
Lactation Consultant
Maimonides Infants and Children’s Hospital
Brooklyn, NY 11219

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