Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T05:32:05.101Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectant Issues Encountered in an Environmental Services Department

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 November 2015

John M. Boyce ,
Linda Sullivan ,
Arica Booker  and
James Baker
John M. Boyce*
Affiliation:
Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control Program, Yale New-Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Linda Sullivan
Affiliation:
Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control Program, Yale New-Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut
Arica Booker
Affiliation:
Environmental Services Department, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut
James Baker
Affiliation:
Environmental Services Department, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut
*
Address correspondence to John M. Boyce, MD, Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, Yale-New Haven Hospital, 20 York Street, New Haven, CT 06510 (jmboyce69@gmail.com).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We identified several factors affecting the use of quaternary ammonium-based (Quat) disinfectant in our facility. Microfiber wipers, cotton towels, and 1 of 2 types of disposable wipes soaked in a Quat disinfectant revealed significant binding of the disinfectant. Concentrations of Quat delivered by automated disinfectant dispensers varied widely.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2016;37(3):340–342

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , March 2016 , pp. 340 - 342
Copyright
© 2015 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Rutala, WA, Weber, DJ, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities, 2008. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/guidelines/Disinfection_Nov_2008.pdf. Published 2008. Accessed November 5, 2015.Google Scholar
2. MacDougall, KD, Morris, C. Optimizing disinfectant application in healthcare facilities. Infect Control Today 2006;10:62–67.Google Scholar
3. Gerba, CP. Quaternary ammonium biocides: efficacy in application. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015;81:464–469.Google Scholar
4. Bloss, R, Meyer, S, Kampf, G. Adsorption of active ingredients of surface disinfectants depends on the type of fabric used for surface treatment. J Hosp Infect 2010;75:56–61.Google Scholar
5. Engelbrecht, K, Ambrose, D, Sifuentes, L, et al. Decreased activity of commercially available disinfectants containing quaternary ammonium compounds when exposed to cotton towels. Am J Infect Control 2013;41:908–911.Google Scholar
6. Sander, J, Ladenstein, M. [Reliability of disinfectant dispensers in hospitals (author’s transl.)]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1974;99:1560–1564.Google Scholar
7. Sifuentes, LY, Gerba, CP, Weart, I, Engelbrecht, K, Koenig, DW. Microbial contamination of hospital reusable cleaning towels. Am J Infect Control 2013;41:912–915.Google Scholar
8. Quat Absorption onto Textiles. Ecolab website. http://www.ecolab.com/innovation/resources/healthcare-clinical-literature-resources/~/media/A1800AE5B40643F78DD217772AD2DDF5.ashx. Published 2009. Accessed March 21, 2015.Google Scholar