Residual activity disinfectants in Australia? A review of policy and guidance

Environmental cleaning and disinfection are central components of infection prevention and control in hospital settings. Disinfectants are chemical agents designed to kill or inactivate microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. The term 'residual activity' has increasingly been associated with disinfectants in recent years, describing a product's ability to have a materially sustained antimicrobial effectiveness over time.

A desktop review of current Australian policies, standards, and guidelines was completed to catalogue references and recommendations pertaining to the use of disinfectants with residual activity claims for the purpose of environmental cleaning and disinfection in hospital settings.

The review revealed a paucity of regulatory guidance and recommendation at both national and jurisdictional levels in Australia with respect to the use of disinfectants with residual activity claims.

Despite the growing prevalence of such claims, there is no contemporary infection prevention and control guidance in Australia relevant to disinfectants and claims of residual activity. There is no current regulatory guidance supporting the use of disinfectants with residual activity in substitute of established cleaning and disinfection practices in hospital and health service settings. Further implications for infection prevention and control practice are discussed.