Highlights
- •Peracetic acid sporicidal wipes were compared with traditional hospital disinfection.
- •Detection rates of indicator organisms with the two methods were similar.
- •HCAI rates with the two methods were not significantly different. However, further long term prospective study is required to confirm this.
- •Peracetic acid wipes were more expensive.
Background
Peracetic acid sporicidal wipes have been shown to be an effective disinfectant, but
in controlled test environments. Their high cost may restrict use.
Aims
This pilot study investigated the efficacy and compared the costs of routine universal
use of peracetic acid sporicidal wipes versus sporicidal quaternary ammonium compound
and alcohol wipes in the disinfection of a hospital environment.
Methods
The routine universal use of peracetic acid wipes (Clinell Sporicidal; GAMA Healthcare
Ltd, London, UK) was allocated to a study ward, whereas the control ward continued
with the use of quaternary ammonium compound wipes (Tuffie 5; Vernacare, Bolton, UK)
and alcohol wipes (PDI Sani-Cloth 70; PDI, Flint, UK). Twenty high-touch areas in
the 2 wards were sampled for the presence of indicator organisms. The weekly detection
rates of indicator organisms and weekly healthcare associated infection (HCAI) rates
in the 2 wards were compared and examined for decreasing trends over the trial period.
Results
The detection rates of indicator organisms and HCAI rates were not significantly different
in the 2 wards, and did not decrease significantly over the trial period. However,
the peracetic acid wipes seem to be more effective against gram-negative organisms
but at a significantly higher cost.
Conclusions
Further prospective studies are needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of peracetic
acid wipes.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 27, 2016
Footnotes
This work was supported by a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine bench fee.
Conflicts of Interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
