EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectants and solutions of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) diluted between 1:10 and 1:100 with water are considered appropriate for this purpose.
Per the OSHA Enforcement Directive on the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, fresh solutions of diluted (generally 1:10) household bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) made up fresh daily (every 24 hours) are considered appropriate for disinfection of surfaces.
A 1:10–1:100 dilution of 5.25%–6.15% sodium hypochlorite (i.e., household bleach) 22, 228, 553, 554 or an EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectant 17has been recommended for decontaminating blood spills.
Recommended disinfectant solutions
Hypochlorite (bleach) solution The recommended level of 1:10 bleach solution is made by adding 1 part household bleach (5.25% hypochlorite) to 10 parts water (or ½ cup of bleach to 4 ½ cups of water, or 125 ml of bleach to 1 litre of water).
Intermediate-level hospital disinfectants will typically include 70–90% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, iodophors, sodium hypochlorite, improved hydrogen peroxide or phenolics as active substances [19], [33].
PAA is used in food and beverage industries as well as hospitals, health care and pharmaceutical facilities as an antimicrobial agent, surface cleaner and sanitizer.
Chlorhexidine-based disinfectants are widely used and are the preferred disinfection agent for donors who are sensitive to iodine1.
Decontamination can be achieved by use of the following methods: Use of household bleach 1:10 ratio, (1/4 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water) Commercial disinfectants may be available in your work environment, check the label for virus killing capability. Autoclave may be available in lab environments on campus.
The cleaning crew will contact blood and body fluids that have been exposed to air, in most cases, for at least 24 hours and will be using hospital-grade disinfection solutions that will kill HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus.
Although topical 1.0% alcohol/chlorhexidine gluconate (ACHX) reduces blood culture contamination more effectively than 10% aqueous povidone‐iodine (PVI), 4 , 5 both agents are routinely applied at our institution as topical disinfectants before blood sampling.
While the relative effectiveness of alcohol and bleach on bacteria and viruses does not vary greatly, it is important not to mix the two agents during cleaning.
The most commonly used chemicals as primary disinfectants are chlorine, chlorine dioxide and ozone. Among them Chlorine is the most widely used primary disinfectant throughout the world.
The Bloodborne Pathogen Standard:
Requires the use of Universal Precautions, an approach to infection control in which workers treat all human blood and certain human body fluids as if they are known to be infectious, to protect against pathogens.
Dilute household bleach 1:9 (v/v) with water (10% bleach solution); make fresh monthly. Store diluted solutions in sealed container that is protected from light. For spill cleanup and to wipe down work surfaces. FINAL concentration of 10% bleach used for liquid infectious waste.
EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectants and solutions of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) diluted between 1:10 and 1:100 with water are considered appropriate for this purpose.
Severe Surface Decontamination
Surfaces that are heavily contaminated with mold, feces, or body tissues should be disin- fected using the following household bleach solution: 11/2 cups bleach. 1 gallon of water. heavy deposits of contaminants and allow to stand for 3 minutes.
If you are stuck by a needle or other sharp or get blood or other potentially infectious materials in your eyes, nose, mouth, or on broken skin, immediately flood the exposed area with water and clean any wound with soap and water or a skin disinfectant if available.
The orange-red fluid that doctors usually apply to the skin before surgery is typically povidone-iodine, an antiseptic solution. This is used to disinfect the skin and to reduce infection risk during surgery.
Chlorine is the universal disinfectant, active against all microorganisms. It is generally served in the form of sodium hypochlorite, with different concentrations of free chlorine. As a general disinfectant for all types of laboratory work, a concentration of 1 g/l (1000 ppm) of free chlorine is used.
Sodium hypochlorite, commonly known as bleach, is most frequently used as a disinfecting agent. It is a broad-spectrum disinfectant that is effective for the disinfection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mycobacterium. However, sodium hypochlorite is NOT effective in the disinfection of bacterial spores and prions.
Peracetic acid (also known as peroxyacetic acid, or PAA) is an organic compound with the formula CH3CO3H.
Stringent disinfection reduces the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Currently, there are five main EPA-registered chemicals that hospitals use for disinfectants: Quaternary Ammonium, Hypochlorite, Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide, Phenolics, and Peracetic Acid.
* Peroxyacetic Acid is a HIGHLY CORROSIVE CHEMICAL and contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes leading to eye damage. * Breathing Peroxyacetic Acid can irritate the nose and throat. * Breathing Peroxyacetic Acid can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath.