Surface disinfection at low temperatures

Temperatures in the winter months can pose particular challenges for rescue workers, as low temperatures below 10°C can reduce the efficacy of disinfectants. Simple measures can be taken to counteract this effect known as “low temperature failure” or "cold error".

Low temperature failure

Apart from a few exceptions, at low temperatures, disinfection processes are considerably slower than at higher temperatures [1]. This has consequences for the use of disinfectants, which are usually used in the medical field at room temperature, i.e. 18 to 23°C: they are sometimes less effective.

Temperature influence depends on the active ingredients

The extent to which the efficacy of a disinfectant is influenced by low temperatures depends on the respective active ingredients: aldehydes show the greatest loss of efficacy at low temperatures.

In the case of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), biguanides and amphoteric surfactants, however, low temperature failure is less pronounced. Disinfectants with alcohols and active oxygen as active ingredients are even less sensitive to the influence of cold: their efficacy is only affected when the application solution freezes [2]. At temperatures below zero, it must always be expected that a frozen disinfectant solution film will form on the surface when an aqueous application solution is used. It can be assumed that the efficacy is seriously limited in such a case.

Countermeasures

BODE/HARTMANN surface disinfectants that have been tested for use in the food sector have a proof of efficacy at low temperatures. They can e.g. be used to disinfect refrigerators or cold rooms.The following measures can generally help to counteract the temperature-related loss of effectiveness of disinfectants: higher concentrations of the respective active ingredient or longer exposure times, whereby an extension of the exposure times is often easier to realise.

Please consider the respective scientific findings when extending the exposure times or increasing the application concentrations.

Sources:

1 Kramer A und Assadian O (Hrsg.) Wallhäußers Praxis der Sterilisation, Desinfektion, Antiseptik und Konservierung. 2008, S. 169.
2 Rheinbaben F.v. und Werner S (2014) Desinfektionsmittel – Einflussfaktoren auf die Wirksamkeit. Dialyse aktuell 18(3): 138-147.