Hospital disinfectants: which is the best?

The recent __KEEP_2__ pandemic has forcefully brought the topic of disinfection.

to public attention

The need to disinfect oneself is present both in the private sector and, above all, in the healthcare facilities called to pay much more attention to this aspect.

But how does disinfection take place,which areas does it affect and what are the best hospital disinfectant products to use?

Let's go find out.

What is disinfection and how is it achieved

In a healthcare environment, disinfection is defined as the set of measures adopted to reduce pathogenic microorganisms,such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores, present on a surface or in an environment, up to a level called safety".

This result is achieved through inactivation, killing or removal of pathogens.

There are three levels of disinfection, of low, medium,high level.

At a low level disinfection eliminates less resistant viruses, bacteria and fungi.

With an medium level, even the most resistant agents are eliminated, with the exception of particular bacterial forms called “vegetative”,for which high-level disinfection.

is required

The next level, in extreme cases, is sterilization.This latter process is capable of eliminating any microorganism, including bacterial spores.

On a general level, a disinfectant proves effective when it has a very broad spectrum of action, a high bactericidal power, acts quickly and lasts over time,proving effective even in the presence of organic substances.Furthermore, a product of this type must not be toxic to humans or have any corrosive power.

The effectiveness of disinfection is also linked to external factors, such as the presence of organic material, the quantity and concentration of the disinfectant used, the environmental conditions present.The ideal temperature, for example, to guarantee the action of the disinfectant, is between 20 and 37°.

It is good practice, before moving on to disinfection, to proceed with a cleansing of objects or environments.

Furthermore,it is good to take into account that on smooth and non-porous surfaces the disinfectant is more effective than on irregular surfaces.

Each single product has peculiar characteristics in terms of concentration to be used and contact time with the surface.If these parameters are not respected, the product loses its effectiveness.

You must always consider the expiry date of the product,its possible incompatibility with other substances and all the precautions to be used: these are notions that the social-healthcare operator who carries out the disinfection must be aware of.

In hospital settings disinfection is carried out on three types of materialsdifferent.

• Non-critical material: that which does not come into contact with body parts, and which therefore does not cause infections, such as work surfaces or bandage scissors.
• Semi-critical material: that which can come into contact with intact mucous membranes of patients,such as rectal thermometers or endoscopes.
• Critical material: that which comes into contact with injured and at-risk body parts such as blood.Let's see which products to use for disinfection in hospitals.
  
  

Which products to use for disinfection in hospitals

The hospital disinfectants are divided into two main categories,that is, hand disinfectants and those for surfaces or instruments.

Hand sanitizers

As hospital hand disinfectants, gel solutions are now mainly used.According to microbiologists these must contain a percentage between 60 and 75% alcohol.

In particular, disinfectants that come into contact with human skin, intact or otherwise, such as hands, and in general on living tissues, are called antiseptics.They are used to prevent and counteract the onset of infections caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi thanks to their microbicidal action.An excellent antiseptic acts only on pathogenic microorganisms, without other effects on the human body.

Among the main disinfectant and antiseptic substances that are used in hospital environments we find the alcohols, such as ethyl alcohol,with which the majority of the hand gel disinfectants currently on the market are composed, and isopropyl alcohol, with an alcohol concentration between 60 and 70%.

There are also antiseptics from the biguanide family such as chlorhexidine, halogenated compounds such as triclosan,or of the family of peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide.

The alcohol modifies and alters the chemical structure of pathogens, their proteins and enzymes, preventing them from carrying out their functions,therefore effectively killing them.

A gel hand disinfectant, like the Amuchina, is excellent above all because it allows the use of these antiseptics everywhere and without the need for sponges and water,proving ideal for hand disinfection in every hospital environment.

Modern discoveries do not damage the hands, thanks to the presence of substances such as glycerin and a non-aggressive pH;so, that even after prolonged use,the hands remain very soft and without chapping.

Disinfectants for surfaces and instruments

There are various hospital disinfectants used on surfaces and environments and the disinfectants specific for tools.

Choosing the right product depends onlevel of disinfection that you need to achieve.

For worktops, monitors or clinical thermometers, alcoholic solutions can be used, such as ethyl alcohol, with concentrations between 60 and 75%, to be used without rinsing with water,for low and medium level disinfections.

For the same level of disinfection, halogenated compounds are also used, such as sodium hypochlorite, which are excellent for disinfecting environments, but also thermostatic cradles or incubators.For this type of disinfection the product is generally diluted with water and the environment is cleaned.

Sodium hypochlorite is now the basis of almost all disinfection products for hospital environments.It acts by oxidation, i.e. by releasing oxygen which alters the cellular composition of pathogenic microorganisms.

It therefore becomes an excellent hospital disinfectant for wards, waiting rooms, hospital rooms, toilets, rooms for preparing meals, infectious wards,operating rooms, but also for linen or disinfection of containers for organic fluids.

For high level disinfections, however, products belonging to the aldehyde category are preferred,or of peracetic alcohol.

They are excellent for acting on plastic, glass or steel instruments, such as thermometers, dental instruments, inhalation therapy or enema devices and in general for all surgical instruments.

Typically,they are used diluted with purified water, with the instruments being immersed in the solution for the time necessary for disinfection.

Covid and disinfectants

In times of __KEEP_2__, it is advisable to use disinfectants capable of acting on the virus: for this reason the disinfectants to be preferred,especially in the hospital environment, they must be products of certified quality.

According to the indications of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the effectiveness of disinfectant products, be they biocides or medical-surgical devices,must be declared on the label based on the scientific evidence presented by the companies.

With respect to Coronavirus, for example, the Germocid spray disinfectant is worth mentioning, available in various formats for surfaces,and the Amuchina gel for hand disinfection.

Conclusions

Depending on the environment and the objects on which it is to be used, the choice of the right hospital disinfectant must be well thought out.

The most effective ones carry out a bactericidal activity and act on a broad spectrum,thus covering various types of pathogenic microorganisms, in very rapid times.

Whether it is a disinfectant for hands, for instruments or for environments, __KEEP_0__ with its over twenty years of experience in the sale of products for hospital use offers a vast range of disinfectants, liquids,in gel or even in spray, allowing you to find the right product for your needs.