The guidelines for the cleaning and disinfection of healthcare facilities by government bodies globally advise against the use of spray disinfectants in healthcare settings. There is a major concern that spray disinfectants produce aerosols and are sometimes made up of contaminated solutions. Although there isn’t a lot of evidence to show that the use of spray disinfectants is bad for healthcare facilities, a major player in the health scene advises against it – the Center for Disease Control and Epidemiology (CDC).
While we are not saying that you should disinfect every inch of your healthcare facility with spray disinfectants, a recent article by Doe Kley, a senior Infection Preventionist at Clorox Healthcare, provide a valid argument.
According to Doe, the studies cited by the CDC in their guidelines for the use of spray disinfectants in healthcare facilities are outdated. The articles are 21-49 years old. Also, she stated that the studies generalized results from studies that examined floor care and vacuuming with outdated and faulty equipment, construction activities, and porous insulations being pathogen sources in buildings. Doe also stated most of the other guidelines found on the internet cite CDC’s guidance as evidence for not recommending the use of spray disinfectants in healthcare settings.
The Association for perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), in their guidelines for perioperative practice, advises against the use of spray bottles in the operating room. The CDC guideline for the use of spray disinfectants is cited, and it states that sprayed disinfectants produce more aerosols in comparison to other forms of disinfectant applications. Also, it was stated in the AORN guidelines for perioperative practice that if a cleaning compound is already contaminated, then spraying it increases the chance of spreading airborne diseases.
Doe, who currently uses her clinical expertise, input, and review of key materials to provide consultative services to support marketing and sales, as well as the development of practice tools, argues that there are now pre-diluted, ready-to-use (RTU) sprays and liquids that reduce the chances of contamination to virtually zero.
She mentioned that many of the modern manufacturers had engineered sprays with the capacity to create larger droplets rather than aerosolized mist. Therefore, reducing the risk of spray bottles aerosolizing microorganisms or posing occupational hazards.
Doe ended the article by stating that a health facility should think about conducting a risk assessment to determine what regions of their facility can benefit from spray disinfectants and the best periods to use them.
Some examples of places that may benefit from spray disinfectants include vacant spaces like operating rooms when patients are not in them. Waiting rooms, waiting rooms, and public restrooms are viable locations for spray disinfection.
SafeFromSpread is dedicated to helping protect small, medium, and large-sized companies’ employees and customers from the spread of harmful germs and bacteria, including COVID-19. Apart from carrying out thorough disinfection of your premises, SafeFromSpread only uses disinfectants that are approved by the CDC as safe for your premises, equipment, and patients.