Tackling C difficile with environmental cleaning

Area of Science:

• Infection Control
• Environmental Hygiene
• Healthcare-Associated Infections

Background:

• Traditional chlorine-based disinfectants pose risks due to high concentrations, causing irritation and corrosion.
• These limitations make chlorine products unsuitable for near-patient environments, leading to compliance issues.
• Peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide-based products offer effective disinfection, even with heavy soiling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of peracetic acid sporicidal wipes on Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection rates.
• To assess the efficacy of enhanced environmental cleaning in an acute care setting.

Main Methods:

• An 18-month observational study (2006-2010) monitored C. difficile rates in inpatients aged two years and older.
• A switch from chlorine-based to peracetic acid sporicidal wipes occurred in April 2008.
• Patient bed days were tracked to control for variations in patient volume.

Main Results:

• The mean C. difficile rate per 1000 patients decreased from six to two after introducing the wipes.
• Rates fell below two per 1000 patients in early 2009.
• A 72% overall reduction in C. difficile infection rates was observed.

Conclusions:

• Implementing peracetic acid sporicidal wipes led to a substantial decrease in C. difficile rates.
• Findings underscore the importance of revising environmental cleaning protocols to combat C. difficile.
• Enhanced disinfection strategies are crucial for acute care settings.