Uses of inorganic hypochlorite (bleach) in health-care facilities

Abstract

Hypochlorite has been used as a disinfectant for more than 100 years. It has many of the properties of an ideal disinfectant, including a broad antimicrobial activity, rapid bactericidal action, reasonable persistence in treated potable water, ease of use, solubility in water, relative stability, relative nontoxicity at use concentrations, no poisonous residuals, no color, no staining, and low cost. The active species is undissociated hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Hypochlorites are lethal to most microbes, although viruses and vegetative bacteria are more susceptible than endospore-forming bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Activity is reduced by the presence of heavy metal ions, a biofilm, organic material, low temperature, low pH, or UV radiation. Clinical uses in health-care facilities include hyperchlorination of potable water to prevent Legionella colonization, chlorination of water distribution systems used in hemodialysis centers, cleaning of environmental surfaces, disinfection of laundry, local use to decontaminate blood spills, disinfection of equipment, decontamination of medical waste prior to disposal, and dental therapy. Despite the increasing availability of other disinfectants, hypochlorites continue to find wide use in hospitals.

Biofilms, bacterial signaling, and their ties to marine biology

“…As bleach diffuses into the biofilm it reacts with the outermost cells and matrix material, lowering the concentration and therefore leaving little hypochlorite to diffuse farther. These reactions greatly reduce the diffusion rates and is why bleach and other reactive disinfectants are not as effective on biofilms as on planktonic organisms [23,39].…”

Clostridium difficile infection: A critical overview

“…C. difficile spores are stable at temperatures ranging from -20°C to 90°C [35]; they are resistant to desiccation [11•] and are only destroyed by high heat or alkaline pH [36]. A variety of cleaning agents are effective in killing the vegetative forms of C. difficile, but only chlorine-based disinfectants and high concentrations of vaporized hydrogen peroxide have been shown to be sporicidal [37]. In 2000, Mayfield et al [38] demonstrated the superiority of 10% sodium hypochlorite solution (bleach), mixed fresh daily, over quaternary ammonium solution for cleaning the rooms of patients with positive C. difficile toxin tests.…”

Bactericidal and Fungicidal Activity in the Gas Phase of Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC)

“…Up to now, isocyanurates have been chiefly used, besides as sanitizers in the treatment of drinking water and sewage, also in the disinfection of water for swimming pools and industrial cooling towers, in the cleaning of sanitary products, including baby bottles and contact lenses, and in the disinfection of environmental surfaces, of irrigation system for flowers, medical equipment and laundry [21]. The use of chlorine solutions in dentistry deserves a special mention.…”