Proper disinfection is a critical component of infection prevention and control and biosecurity measures. To ensure safety from pathogens and from potentially harmful chemicals, avoid these mistakes when disinfecting.

1) Choosing the wrong disinfectant

It’s crucial to select a disinfectant that is specifically developed to kill the types of pathogens you are targeting. Different disinfectants are formulated for different purposes, such as for use in human healthcare settings, animal health facilities, food processing or more. Make sure to understand the purpose of the disinfectant and whether it is appropriate for your needs. It is always best to be compliant with industry requirements and regulations and select a disinfectant that is properly labelled for your specific needs.

2) Thinking that all disinfectants are harmful

Many disinfectants can pose safety risks, but not all disinfectants are harmful to people, animals, materials or the environment. Several of the most commonly used disinfectants rely on hazardous chemicals like chlorine releasing agents, quaternary ammonium compounds, and alcohols. Many of these substances present risk of permanent eye and skin damage. Long term, some can also be linked to occupational asthma.

However, there are safer disinfectant technologies available that are formulated with natural and biodegradable ingredients that are non-irritating to eyes, non-corrosive to skin, non-carcinogenic, do not cause respiratory irritation and do not require any special ventilation. These alternatives to harmful chemicals make them safer to use every day. 

Additionally, you should refer to a product’s Safety Data Sheet. A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document required for all chemicals in your workplace that provides guidance on how to work safely with the product. The document includes if personal protective equipment is required, first aid measures and more. The SDS will also inform you how safe your products are and if you should be considering a different disinfectant.

3) Confusing cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting and sterilizing

Understanding the differences between these processes is crucial for effective infection control.

  • Cleaning: Involves using detergents and surfactants to remove dirt and debris from surfaces. Cleaning is necessary to prepare the surface prior to disinfection.
  • Sanitizing: Reduces the pathogen load by at least 99.9%. Sanitizing reduces the number of bacteria on a surface to an acceptable limit but does not include efficacy against viruses and fungi. This process is less rigorous than disinfecting but is still important for lowering the risk of spreading infections.
  • Disinfecting: Uses chemicals to kill or inactivate pathogens on surfaces, including efficacy against bacteria, viruses and fungi. Disinfectants are designed to target and destroy most pathogenic microorganisms, ensuring a higher level of safety.
  • Sterilizing: The level of reprocessing required when processing critical medical equipment and/or devices that enter sterile tissue. Sterilization results in the destruction of all forms of microbial life including spores.

4) Not reaching the required contact time

No disinfectant kills sufficiently or immediately on contact. Disinfectants must stay wet on the surface for the required disinfection contact time to kill pathogens effectively. If the disinfectant evaporates or dries too quickly, it may not be effective. Read the product label for contact times and look for disinfectants with a rapid and realistic contact time for efficiency and compliance. Make sure that users are informed about how long the product needs to remain on the surface to work properly.

5) Wiping the surface right away after spraying

Spraying a surface and wiping it off immediately prevents the disinfectant from working effectively, as no disinfectant works instantly. Make sure to follow the contact time instructions indicated on the product label to determine the required time the surface should stay wet. Ensure that the disinfectant remains on the surface for the full duration before wiping it down or allowing it to air-dry.

6) Not cleaning the surface effectively

Cleaning is the physical removal of foreign material and organic material. Cleaning physically removes rather than kills microorganisms. It is accomplished with water, detergents, and mechanical action. The more soil and pathogens removed during cleaning, the more likely the surface is disinfected during the disinfection step.

It is always best to use approved one-step disinfectant cleaners that not only remove soils but also remove large amounts of pathogens that may be present on the surface. One-Step Disinfectant Cleaner terminology is an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) / Health Canada term that is used to describe a disinfectant that has been tested in a soil load and maintains its ability to kill pathogens. Disinfectant chemistries that are not registered as one-step disinfectant cleaners should not be used during the cleaning step.

7) Mixing cleaning chemicals

Mixing any products into your disinfectants that are not on the label or recommended by the manufacturer can be dangerous and may impact the effectiveness of your disinfectants. These substances include other cleaning or disinfectant products, fragrances or essential oils, dyes and anything else not listed on the label directions.

8) Not measuring accurately

Always follow the instructions on the label when mixing and using a concentrated disinfectant, making sure to measure accurately. A common mistake is to use too little disinfectant, either by measuring wrong or thinking using less will save money. However, doing this can make the disinfectant too weak to be effective and pose a safety risk from pathogens. Conversely, using too high of a concentration of a disinfectant under the belief that stronger is better, is also dangerous. It can be harmful to the user, occupants, and the materials it is applied to. The best methods to ensure you are achieving the right dilution ratios are to use automated mixing stations and other validated dilution equipment. Test strips are also useful for users who manually mix concentrates.

9) Using expired disinfectants

Whether you are using disinfectant wipes, a ready-to-use formula, or a concentrate formula, it is important to check the label for the expiration date. Besides knowing the shelf life of a disinfectant, it is also crucial to know how long a concentrate formula will last after you dilute it to ensure it remains effective. The life of diluted disinfectants can vary—some last only 24 hours, others for 7 days, and some for even 90 days. Always make sure to read the label or contact the manufacturer to find out how long your diluted disinfectant can be used effectively.

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