Healthcare facilities must consider a range of factors when deciding between pulp and reusable plastic bedpans, most importantly:
- Infection control
- Cost
- Staff and patient preferences
- Space limitations
- Environmental responsibility
Pulp bedpans
Pulp bedpans are widely available and are disposed of after use in a macerator or an offensive waste bin.
Infection control |
Many leading healthcare providers are switching to using pulp bedpans as they offer a secure, uni-directional infection pathway. Single-use pulp bedpans have proven to reduce infection rates by 33% compared to reusable alternatives. (Bryce 2011, 566-570) |
Cost |
Sites who have migrated to pulp have found they also incur significant long-term indirect savings through infection treatment and shorter patient stays. This is alongside direct savings such as decreased utilities and disinfectant usage. |
Staff and patient preferences |
95% of clinical staff has expressed a preference for single-use toileting devices compared to reusable alternatives. (Delaney 2017) Patients often prefer pulp bedpans as they will always receive a new, clean device and pulp disposal systems are quiet. |
Space limitations |
Most pulp products can be stacked for easy storage solutions in tight sluice rooms. |
Environmental responsibility |
Pulp bedpans are made of recycled organic materials and are flushed down drains much like toilet paper. |
Reusable bedpans
Reusable bedpans are washed either by hand or by a washer-disinfector after use and are made of plastic or stainless steel.
Infection control |
Reusable bedpans require thorough cleaning processes to ensure elimination of infection. Studies have found failure rates of up to 33% in hospital washer-disinfectors, which can have a serious impact on patient health. |
Cost |
Reusable bedpans should be replaced every 6 months as pathogens can build up in scratches. Running costs of washer-disinfectors are high and they require high amounts of hot water and expensive disinfectant to operate effectively. |
Staff and patient preferences |
Staff have reported that using reusable bedpans is unpleasant as they require more processing, resulting in hazardous splashing and contribute to an unhygienic working environment. |
Space limitations |
Reusable bedpans cannot be stacked. |
Environmental responsibility |
Washing reusable bedpans uses high levels of disinfectant which can cause environmental contamination. It is also highly water and energy intensive. |
Further Reading
Delaney, Molly Bridget. “Kick the Bucket: One Hospital System’s Journey to Reduce Clostridium Difficile.” Journal of Emergency Nursing 43, no. 6 (2017): 519–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2017.02.003.
Bryce, Elizabeth, Allison Lamsdale, Leslie Forrester, Linda Dempster, Sydney Scharf, Michael Mcauley, Ian Clearie, Sharon Stapleton, and Sheila Browning. “Bedpan Washer Disinfectors: An in-Use Evaluation of Cleaning and Disinfection.” American Journal of Infection Control 39, no. 7 (2011): 566–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2015.02.055.