Effectiveness of Disinfectant Wipes for Decontamination of Bacteria on Patients’ Environmental and Medical Equipment Surfaces at Siriraj Hospital
Chakkraphong Seenama BSc*, Peenithi Tachasirinugune**, Duangporn Jintanothaitavorn BSc***, Kanchana Kachintorn BSc***, Visanu Thamlikitkul MD*
Affiliation : * Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** University of Washington, USA *** Infection Control Center, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To determine the effectiveness of VirusolveR+ disinfectant wipes and PALR disinfectant wipes for decontamination
of inoculated bacteria on patients’ environmental and medical equipment surfaces at Siriraj Hospital.
Material and Method: Tryptic soy broths containing MRSA and XDR A. baumannii were painted onto the surfaces of patient’s
stainless steel bed rail, patient’s fiber footboard, control panel of infusion pump machine and control panel of respirator. The
contaminated surfaces were cleaned by either tap water, tap water containing detergent, VirusolveR+ disinfectant wipes or
PALR disinfectant wipes. The surfaces without any cleaning procedures served as the control surface. The contaminated
surfaces cleaned with the aforementioned procedures and control surfaces were swabbed with cotton swabs. The swabs were
streaked on agar plates to determine the presence of MRSA and XDR A. baumannii.
Results : MRSA and XDR A. baumannii were recovered from all control surfaces. All surfaces cleaned with tap water or tap
water containing detergent revealed presence of both MRSA and XDR A. baumannii. However, the amounts of bacteria on the
surfaces cleaned with tap water containing detergent were less than those cleaned with tap water alone. All surfaces cleaned
with PALR disinfectant wipes also revealed presence of both MRSA and XDR A. baumannii. However, the amounts of bacteria
on the surfaces cleaned with PALR disinfectant wipes were less than those cleaned with tap water containing detergent. No
bacteria were recovered from all surfaces cleaned with VirusolveR+ disinfectant wipes.
Conclusion : VirusolveR+ disinfectant wipes were more effective than tap water, tap water containing detergent and PALR
disinfectant wipes for decontamination of bacteria inoculated on patients’ environmental and medical equipment surfaces at
Siriraj Hospital.
Keywords : Disinfectant wipes, Hospital-acquired infection, Acinetobacter baumannii, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA
