Abstract
The purpose of disinfectants is to reduce microorganisms on a contaminated surface and to prevent the spread of microorganisms. The relatively new EN 16615 simulates disinfection by wiping and allows for assessing the recovery of microorganisms from the surface and, importantly, the degree of spread of microorganisms when the surface is disinfected by wiping. For the first time, using this standard, the tested products in the form of commercial disinfectant wipes were compared with self-made wipes soaked in respective disinfectant liquids. The disinfected surfaces were simulated by homogeneous polyvinyl chloride plates. The studies were carried out not only with the standard, but also with clinical multidrug-resistant microbial strains. Based on the research, it can be concluded that the most effective products in the disinfection process (log10 reduction of ≥5) with the shortest contact time (1 min) were products containing ethanol, propanol, and quaternary ammonium compounds (self-made wipes) and propanol (commercial wipes). The least effective products (log10 reduction of <5) in terms of the contact time declared by the manufacturer were products containing ethanol and sodium hypochlorite (commercial wipes). Much better antimicrobial activity of self-made wipes was observed in comparison to the activity of the commercial wipes.
Highlights
IntroductionMicrobes contaminating inanimate surfaces in the patient zone (floors, countertops, beds, and medical equipment) constitute a reservoir of potential pathogens, including multi-resistant strains
The product containing didecidimethylammonium chloride and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (No 3) after the declared contact time of 10 min did not meet the requirements of the standard when three bacterial strains were used: S. aureus American Type Culture Collections (ATCC)
The EN 16615 standard can be used to test the antimicrobial activity of both commercial and self-made wipes, and is the biocidal potency of wipes soaked in liquids taken into account, and the mechanical wiping to prevent the transmission of microorganisms
Summary
Microbes contaminating inanimate surfaces in the patient zone (floors, countertops, beds, and medical equipment) constitute a reservoir of potential pathogens, including multi-resistant strains. They may play a role in the cross-transmission of pathogens and the subsequent colonization or infection in patients. Contamination of inanimate surfaces may occur as a result of the direct transfer of bacteria by the patient (higher from the infected patients than the colonized ones) or by the hands of health care professionals [1,2]. It is known that bacterial pathogens, both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and fungal pathogens, such as Candida albicans, can survive for several months on dry environmental surfaces in hospitals and health care facilities despite regular cleaning and disinfection [3,4]
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