Abstract
Hard surface cleaning and disinfection is critically important in environments where microbial contamination can result in the spread of food-borne illnesses and infectious diseases. Successful disinfection of a hard surface can be impeded by the presence of a soil load in the form of protein, fat or other material. Fibrous materials used as applicators for surface disinfecting solutions require careful consideration to ensure the active ingredient remains efficacious. Of equal importance are the mechanical and surface properties of the applicator including tensile strength, cleaning efficiency, and absorbency. Therefore, the successful disinfection of a hard surface can be greatly enhanced by an applicator that also effectively removes organic contaminants, is strong enough to resist structural failure, and reduces water waste when a disinfecting solution is applied. The cleaning and physical properties of nonwoven applicators in the form of disposable wipes composed of cotton, rayon, polyester, and blends thereof were evaluated with several assays. Dynamic wiping assays, surface roughness, and tensile testing were conducted to compare the physical and surface properties of the wipes. The removal of organic contaminants was found to correlate with higher wipe surface roughness that increased with cellulosic fiber content. Tensile testing demonstrated the greige cotton, which has not been subjected to processing such as scouring or bleaching, had increased wet strength while rayon wipes lost significant strength when wet. Greige cotton wipes were also produced as a sustainable product with reduced absorbency that would minimize water usage and waste. The results indicated that inclusion of greige cotton fibers in wipes offers improvements over currently available wipes without sacrificing strength or cleaning efficiency.
Highlights
Contacted surfaces play a key role in the transmission of infectious pathogens, which is relevant to both foodborne illnesses and healthcare facilities
Contamination of food-contact surfaces is responsible for nearly 80% of all foodborne illnesses of both bacterial and viral origin including Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes as well as several noroviruses.[1,2,3,4,5,6]
Staple fibers used in this study for in-house nonwoven fabric production included mechanically cleaned greige cotton fibers (True Cotton, TJ Beall Company, Greenwood, MS), polyester fibers (Consolidated Fibers Inc., Charlotte, NC), and viscose rayon fibers (Consolidated Fibers)
Summary
Contacted surfaces play a key role in the transmission of infectious pathogens, which is relevant to both foodborne illnesses and healthcare facilities. Contamination of food-contact surfaces is responsible for nearly 80% of all foodborne illnesses of both bacterial and viral origin including Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes as well as several noroviruses.[1,2,3,4,5,6] This is of profound consequence in healthcare settings including hospital rooms and intensive care units, where exposure to such pathogens can complicate treatment and lead to increased mortality rates.[7,8] This cycle of transmission may be halted by the appropriate cleaning of such surfaces. While protocols have been outlined for the sanitization process, less attention is devoted to the cloths used in this endeavor.[10,16] Recently, the appropriate wipe material selection has been identified as an essential tool to reduce food contamination related illnesses and deaths.[17,18] Both disposable and reusable cloths may be used; single-use wipes, especially nonwovens, are more popular due to the tendency of non-disposable cloths to harbor microorganisms, despite aggressive laundering.[19,20]
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