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Decreased activity of commercially available disinfectants containing quaternary ammonium compounds when exposed to

Kathleen Engelbrecht1, Dianna Ambrose, Laura Sifuentes

  • 1Corporate Research and Engineering, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, WI.

American Journal of Infection Control
|April 30, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cotton towels significantly reduce the effectiveness of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) disinfectants, potentially increasing the risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Reconsider cotton towel use in healthcare settings.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infection Control
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Health care-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant risk in hospitals.
  • Environmental surfaces can harbor bacteria for extended periods, acting as reservoirs for microbial transmission.
  • Ineffective cleaning practices can facilitate the spread of pathogens to patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of cotton and microfiber towels on the efficacy of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs).
  • To determine the binding capacity of different towel materials for QAC disinfectants.
  • To assess the implications for hospital disinfection protocols and HAI prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of cotton and microfiber towels' ability to bind QACs.
  • Exposure of towels to commercial QAC disinfectants for varying durations.
  • Germicidal Spray Tests (GSTs) to assess disinfectant effectiveness.
  • High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify QAC concentrations.

Main Results:

  • Cotton towels reduced QAC concentrations by up to 85.3%.
  • Disinfectants exposed to cotton towels failed in 96% of Germicidal Spray Tests.
  • Microfiber towels showed less significant binding of QACs compared to cotton.

Conclusions:

  • The use of cotton towels with QAC-based disinfectants is not recommended in healthcare settings.
  • Reduced disinfectant efficacy due to cotton towels may compromise environmental hygiene.
  • Alternative cleaning materials should be considered to ensure effective disinfection and reduce HAI transmission.
Keywords:
DisinfectionHAIHospital surfacesInactivationMicrofiber

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