Wiping Cloth Material Choice Significantly Impacts the Bactericidal Efficacy of Select Disinfectant Chemistries in Environmental Surface Decontamination.

Background: Manual wiping of surfaces, a primary method in preventing hospital acquired infections, can vary significantly in its ability to eliminate bacteria and prevent cross-contamination.

Methods: Four liquid-based cleaning and disinfecting formulations comprised of hydrogen peroxide (HP), ethoxylated alcohol (EA), quaternary ammonium compounds (Quat and Quat2), or a water-based control were evaluated for their bactericidal efficacy in combination with three different wiping materials: microfiber, polypropylene, and cotton. Each chemistry and wipe combination were evaluated for its ability to reduce microbial contamination on a hard, non-porous surface measuring one meter. The bactericidal efficacy of each pairing was tested against two bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442).

Results: Wipes containing HP exhibited the highest bactericidal efficacy among all tested formulations, transferring the least amount of bacteria across test surfaces. Polypropylene wipes consistently outperformed cotton, removing a greater proportion of bacteria from the inoculation site and transferring fewer bacteria to secondary areas. Wipes impregnated with EA, Quat, and Quat2 retained viable bacteria on the wipe, contributing to increased cross-contamination to other surfaces.

Conclusion: Wiping material choice impacted the bactericidal efficacy of liquid chemistries in surface decontamination, underscoring the need to select effective material-chemistry combinations to reduce viable bacteria and limit cross-contamination.