It is late October, a time when apples are pressed into cider, leaves turn to vibrant autumn colors and Halloween horror movies scare and thrill audiences. While the names of monsters, ghosts and ghouls in these movies change, there are some recurring themes that are common to all of them including dangers lurking in hidden places, unexpected twists, secret weapons and of course, sequels. In a horror movie starring SPD professionals, germs would be the monsters and the same themes that create tension and suspense in Hollywood could easily be adapted.

A surprising revelation that has the feel of a classic horror movie, is the fact that your kitchen sink is germier than your toilet. The sink – a key ally in the fight against germs – is the real monster! There are microbes everywhere and most are just fine for us, perhaps even beneficial to our microbiomes and immune systems. We don't care about those. What's important to note is; “There's more fecal bacteria in your kitchen sink than there is in a toilet after you flush it.” It is like finding out that the threatening voice on your phone is really your best friend and she is calling from inside the house!

Sinks and surrounding surfaces are the epicenter of activity in kitchens and in the decontamination area. Cleaning surgical instruments removes gross soil but transfer both soil and microorganisms to the sink, faucets, drain stoppers, and anywhere that a droplet of water can splash. Make sure that you have a schedule and procedure, with access to the right tools and cleaners, to regularly and thoroughly clean sinks and surrounding areas. Multi-enzymatic cleaners like the U.S. EPA Safer Choice awarded cleaners do double duty; when used at the sink to clean instruments they remove and break down soil, then continue that activity in the sink’s drain system. As an added safety feature they are low foam and clear, to avoid the lurking dangers of contaminated sharps.