Abstract
BackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate the extent and potential mechanisms of early onset surface damage from simulated wiping typical of six-months of routine disinfection and to assess the subsequent microbial risk of surfaces damaged by disinfectants.MethodsEight common material surfaces were exposed to three disinfectants and a neutral cleaner (neutral cleaner, quaternary ammonium, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite) in accelerated aging tests to simulate a long-term disinfection routine. Materials were also immersed in dilute and concentrated chemical solutions to induce surface damage. Surfaces were chemically and physically characterized to determine extent of surface damage. Bactericidal efficacy testing was performed on the Quat-based disinfectant using a modified version of EPA standard operating procedure MB-25-02.ResultsThe wiping protocol increased surface roughness for some material surfaces due to mechanical abrasion of the wiping cloth. The increased roughness did not correlate with changes in bactericidal efficacy. Chemical damage was observed for some surface-disinfectant combinations. The greatest observed effects from disinfectant exposure was in changes in wettability or water contact angle.ConclusionsEarly onset surface damage was observed in chemical and physical characterization methods. These high-throughput material measurement methods were effective at assessing nanoscale disinfectant-surface compatibility which may go undetected though routine macroscale testing.
Highlights
The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent and potential mechanisms of early onset surface damage from simulated wiping typical of six-months of routine disinfection and to assess the subsequent microbial risk of surfaces damaged by disinfectants
This mild degree of surface damage can provide a place for bacteria to inhabit and grow
All polymer and metal samples were cut into coupons (1 ft. × 2 in.) used for the control, wiping, and immersing by being exposed to disinfectants which were tested at both ‘full strength’ and diluted per label specifications
Summary
The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent and potential mechanisms of early onset surface damage from simulated wiping typical of six-months of routine disinfection and to assess the subsequent microbial risk of surfaces damaged by disinfectants. Disinfectant-induced corrosion of stainless steel has been reported where the damage is undetectable to the naked eye [2]. Small, this mild degree of surface damage can provide a place for bacteria to inhabit and grow. Repeated use of a disinfectant on a damaged surface will only exacerbate the damage and create a wider berth for bacteria to inhabit [2] It has been known for some time that repeated exposure of a surface to a disinfectant can cause surface damage, the effect on disinfectant efficacy has not been quantified.
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