by Brianna Crandall — August 18, 2017 — Sealed Air’s Diversey Care division of sustainable cleaning, sanitation and hygiene solutions recently released the first of a series of studies conducted with Purdue University that focus on the bactericidal efficacy of disinfectants. The research, expected to be published in an issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), determined that the three tested disinfectants were significantly less bactericidal at lower than label use contact times and concentrations.
Peter Teska, infection prevention application expert, Diversey Care, pointed out:
In busy healthcare facilities, disinfectants are often applied once and left to dry, regardless of the unique label instructions. As this study shows, disinfectants don’t live up to their claims if they get over diluted or are not reapplied as directed, Choosing an Environmental Protection Agency-registered disinfectant and following label directions are key elements of effective disinfection and preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections.
Accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP), quaternary ammonium compounds (Quats) and sodium hypochlorite were each tested on stainless steel surfaces at room temperature (77 degrees Fahrenheit) using EPA procedure MB-25-02. For each treatment, bacterial reduction was calculated, compared and analyzed to find the following key results.
All disinfectants were significantly less bactericidal against S aureus when applied for times shorter than label contact times. A one-minute contact time with AHP resulted in a 56.8 percent reduction compared with 100 percent at the recommended five-minute contact time. At contact times of one, two, three and four minutes, Quats resulted in 15.7 percent, 47.4 percent, 62.5 percent and 70.0 percent reduction compared with 100 percent at the 10-minute label contact time. Sodium hypochlorite applied for one minute resulted in a 76.3 percent reduction compared with 100 percent at the five-minute label contact time.
All disinfectants were significantly less bactericidal against S aureus at lower than label concentrations. AHP at 25 percent and 50 percent label concentrations resulted in 40.9 percent and 75.7 percent reductions. Quats at 25 percent and 50 percent label concentrations resulted in 62.5 percent and 67.5 percent reductions and sodium hypochlorite at 25 percent label concentration resulted in 50.7 percent reduction.
The bactericidal efficacy of the sodium hypochlorite disinfectant was most tolerant to decreases in concentration and contact time. AHP followed close behind, while the Quat disinfectant was the least tolerant and most affected by contact time and concentration.
Haley F. Oliver, associate professor, Department of Food Science, Purdue University, concluded:
Understanding the antimicrobial efficacy of disinfectants under different conditions offers healthcare facilities valuable information on disinfection limits, opportunities and corrective actions.
Find out more about the study on the AJIC Web site.
For more information about infection prevention products from Diversey Care, visit the company’s Web site.
