Efficacy of disinfectant-impregnated wipes used for surface disinfection in hospitals: a review

Abstract

Background: Disinfectant products are used frequently on environmental surfaces (e.g. medical equipment, countertops, patient beds) and patient care equipment within healthcare facilities. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of cross-contamination of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa during and after disinfection of predetermined surface areas with ready-to-use (RTU) pre-wetted disinfectant towelettes. Methods: This study tested six disinfectant towelette products against S. aureus ATCC CRM-6538 and P. aeruginosa strain ATCC-15442 on Formica surfaces. Each disinfectant was evaluated on a hard nonporous surface and e cacy was measured every 0.5 m 2 using a modi ed version of EPA MLB SOP-MB-33 to study the risk of cross-contamination. Results: We found that all of the wipes used in this study transferred P. aeruginosa and S. aureus from an inoculated surface to previously uncontaminated surfaces. Disinfectant towelettes with certain chemistries also retained a high level of viable bacteria after disinfection of the surface area. The crosscontamination risk also varied by product chemistry and bacterial strain. Conclusion: Disinfectant wipes can cross-contaminate hard nonporous surfaces and retain viable bacterial cells post-disinfection, especially over larger surface areas. This highlights a need to further investigate the risk disinfectant wipes pose during and post-disinfection and guidance on maximum surface areas treated with a single towelette.

Preparing for a COVID-19 pandemic: a review of operating room outbreak response measures in a large tertiary hospital in Singapore

“…Quaternary ammonium compounds have good cleaning and deodorization properties with a broad spectrum of biocidal and sporostatic activity, including against lipid-enveloped viruses such as coronaviruses. 69 Hypochlorite is affordable, has a rapid onset, and has a large bactericidal spectrum with no toxic residues. 69 Hydrogen peroxide vaporization is effective against a range of bacteria and viruses within hospital settings, 70 including transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus of pigs, a surrogate for the SARS-CoV.…”

“…69 Hypochlorite is affordable, has a rapid onset, and has a large bactericidal spectrum with no toxic residues. 69 Hydrogen peroxide vaporization is effective against a range of bacteria and viruses within hospital settings, 70 including transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus of pigs, a surrogate for the SARS-CoV. 71 Ultraviolet-C irradiation effectively inactivates aerosolized viruses, bacteria, and fungi.…”

Hand Sanitizers: A Review on Formulation Aspects, Adverse Effects, and Regulations

“…The advantage of HSW is eliminating the possible contaminations and transfer of pathogen due to towelettes reuse. However, the longer storage time could increase the probability of losing antimicrobial/viricidal activity due to the possible binding of active ingredients onto the towelettes or by the degradation of the active ingredient [33].…”

Practical considerations for performing regional anesthesia: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The cooling block used should be cleaned with quaternary ammonium chloride disinfectant wipes thereafter. 40 Alternatively, ice cubes can be placed in a disposable plastic bag and used instead of a reusable cooling block. These can then be discarded after a single use.…”

“…The ultrasound machine should be wiped down with quaternary ammonium chloride disinfectant wipes. 40 It should then be left in the OR for ultraviolet C irradiation or hydrogen peroxide vaporization before it is used on another patient.…”