Surface Disinfection

Efficient against germs

Surface disinfectants for infection protection
3/22/2022

Surface disinfection has gained much importance in infection prophylaxis. Studies confirm: clinically relevant pathogens often can persist on surfaces for weeks or months – cross contamination poses a permanent risk [1-3].

Surfaces that come into contact with hands and skin frequently as well as areas that most likely become contaminated should be disinfected daily. Here, the selection of procedures and products very much depends on the respective inanimate surface’s infection potential. For surface disinfection in hospitals, the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention at the Robert Koch-Institute (RKI) classified risk areas and specified indications that are incorporated into the hygiene plan in accordance with the conditions and requirements in the individual hospitals.

Based on the risk analysis or indications for surface disinfection, the products that are used fulfil the European standards and– depending on the necessary spectrum of effect and national recommendations– are listed by the RKI, the Association for Applied Hygiene (VAH), or the German Veterinary Medicine Society (DVG).

Material compatibility, economy, user comfort, contact times, odour behaviour and wetting properties are further criteria for product selection. Short contact times, strong cleaning performance and virucidal efficacy are offered, for example, by the aldehyde-containing Kohrsolin® FF products. Aldehyde-free surfaces can be cleaned with products from the Mikrobac® disinfecting group. For rapid disinfection, the ready-to-use alcohol-based disinfectant products of the Bacillol AF group for alcohol-insensitive surfaces and the Bacillol® 30 Sensitive group for sensitive surfaces are available.


Sources:

  1. Kramer A. et al. (2006) How long do nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 6:130
  2. Riddell S. et al. (2020) The effect of temperature on persistence of SARS-CoV-2 on common surfaces. Virol J 17(1):145
  3. Wißmann JE. et al. (2021) Persistence of pathogens on inanimate surfaces: A narrative review. Microorganisms 9(2):343

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