|
Cleaner: Better Cleaning Efficiancy
Result: Added Confidence
Cleaning in Health Care Settings
The infection control LCDC guidelines (December, 1998) have defined cleaning as "the physical removal of all foreign material, e.g. dust, soil, organic material such as blood, secretions, excretions and microorganisms. Proper cleaning is generally sufficient for the decontamination of the inanimate health care environment. This is because the inanimate environment is seldom directly responsible for disease.
Measuring Cleaning Ability - Cleaning Efficiency Tests
These tests were carried out by Dell Tech Laboratories Ltd. (London, Ontario) using Method 20.3 (cleaning efficiency) of the Canadian General Standards Board (CAN/CGSB - 2.11).
Results
As shown the 7% (diluted by 1:16) and the ready-to-use AHP products offered high cleaning efficiencies of approximately 86.5%. Under the test conditions used, other commonly used germicides showed lesser cleaning efficiencies of 12.6% (Quaternary Ammonium Compound, 1:250), 11.3% (Bleach, 1:20) and 5.6% (phenolic detergent, 1:250).
Cleaning efficacy of Accel®
Click graph for larger version
Faster: Realistic Germicidal Contact Times
Result: Compliance
Cleaning in Health Care Settings
Disinfection is a general term used to define a range of processes, from simple cleaning of environmental surfaces to total elimination of all microbial contaminants (Sattar, 1998). General cleaning of environmental surfaces with Hydrox, at the proper use dilutions and strict adherence to the manufacturer's cleaning instructions, prevents the spread of microoganisms and is sufficient for decontamination of environmental surfaces. For a higher degree of confidence in the decontamination process a sanitizing agent may be used. Sanitization is a process that reduces the microbial load on objects and environmental surfaces through washing or wiping with cleaning agents that also may have some germicidal activity (Sattar, 1998). ACCEL Disinfectants have broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity with a short contact time.
Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide™ has been tested against a new and more stringent quantitive methodology. Developed by Dr. Sattar Ph.D
Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide™ at .5% has a hard surface performance of:
- Broad-Spectrum Activity 99.999% in 30 Seconds at 20°C with an additional 5% organic challenge Including MRSA & VRE
- General Virucide / Bactericidal in 5 minutes at 20°C with an additional 5% organic challenge
In Canada a Registered Disinfectant that is effective against the Sabin Vaccine Strain of Poliovirus Type 1 (ATCC VR-192) allows for a General Virucide Claim against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.
Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide™ at 7% (for use with semi-critical and critical instruments) has a performance of:
- Chemosterilent - Sporicidal at 20°C in 8 hours
- High Level - Tuberculocidal at 20°C in 20 minutes
Safer for Users and Patients
Result: Healthier
What is Biodegradability? Chemical germicides and cleaners based on Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide™ and Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide™ have been designed to meet requirements for increased effectiveness in both cleaning and disinfecting while delivering improved safety to the user and the environment.
VOC Release Tests (Headspace Tests):
Ortech Corporation (Mississauga, Ontario) conducted these tests using the Headspace Test developed by the Ortech Corporation to calculate the concentration of gases released from environmental surfaces.
The Amount of Volatile Organic Chemicals Released by AHP Products, a Quaternary Ammonium Compound, and a Phenolic Compound.
| Product |
VOC in Headspace
|
| 7% accelerated hydrogen peroxide product (Concentrated) |
Below detectable limits
|
| Quaternary Ammonium Compound (Concentrated) |
350 mg/m3 toluene equivalents
|
| Quaternary Ammonium Compound (Diluted) |
9.89 mg/m3 toluene equivalents
|
| Phenolic Compound (Concentrated) |
6000 mg/m3 toluene equivalents
|
Conclusion:
AHP products did not contain any detectable VOC's. In contrast, a quaternary ammonium- and a phenolic-based compound released significant amounts of VOC's. VOC's can adversely affect indoor air quality, and the inhalation of air containing such compounds released by cleaning and disinfecting agents has been associated with allergies and occupational asthma (5).
Skin/Eye Irritation and Acute Oral Toxicity Tests:
Nucro-Technics Inc. (Scarborough, Ontario) also evaluated the ready to use product for its acute toxicity for eyes and skin using the Modified Draze methods as described in OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals (Section 404 and 405, 1992). The acute oral toxicity of the ready to use product was also evaluated using the Limit Test as described in OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals (Section 401, 1981).
Comparison testing was not performed on competitive products, since adequate information about the acute toxicity of many products is available in the literature
The Skin and Eye Irritation and Corrosiveness and Acute Oral Toxicity of a 0.5% and a 7% Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide ACCEL Product, Quaternary Ammonium Compounds and Phenolics.
| Product |
Acute Eye Irritation/Corrosion |
Acute Dermal Irritation/Corrosion |
Acute Oral LD50 rat
|
| 7% Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Product |
N/A |
Mildly Corrosive |
4,213 mg/Kg
|
| 0.5% Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Product |
Non-Corrosive Non-irritant |
Non-Corrosive Non-irritant |
12, 200 mg/Kg
|
| Quaternary Ammonium Compounds |
N/A |
Irritant at concentrations > 0.1% (5)
Corrosive at concentrations > 10% (5)
|
1700 mg/Kg (concentrated neutral quat)
|
| Chlorine Compounds (concentrate) |
N/A |
Corrosive (5) |
490 < 1,300 mg/Kg (3)
|
Conclusion:
AHP products are proven to be relatively non-toxic as evidenced by the fact that they are non-corrosive and non-irritating to the skin and eyes at use dilutions, and are only mildly corrosive in the concentrated form.
It has also been determined that a 0.1% solution of a quaternary ammonium compound is the maximum concentration that would not produce a primary irritation on intact skin or act as a sensitizer (4).
Literature Cited
1. Rochon M. Why Hydrogen Peroxide? New World Health 1998/9: 18.
2. Sattar SA, Springthorpe VS and Rochon M. Products Based on Accelerated and Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide: Evidence for Broad-Spectrum Germicidal Activity. Canadian Journal of Infection Control 1998; 13(4):123-130.
3. Dychdala GR. Chlorine and Chlorine Compounds. In: Block, S. S. eds. Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation, 4th edn. Pennsylvania: Lea & Febiger, 1991:131-151.
4. Merianos JJ. Quaternary Ammonium Antimicrobial Compounds. In: Block, S. S. eds. Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation, 4th edn. Pennsylvania: Lea & Febiger, 1991:225-262.
5. Wolkoff P, Schneider T, Kildeso J, Degerth R, Jaroszewski M, and Schunk H. Risk in Cleaning: Chemical and Physical Exposure. The Science of the Total Environment. 1998; 215:135-156.
Responsible: Reduced Environment Load
Result: Sustainability
What is Biodegradability?
The biodegradability of a substance is a measure of the ability of the material to be broken down in a municipal waste treatment system.
The Biodegradability of:
Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide™
& Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide™
1. The active ingredient Hydrogen Peroxide is fully biodegradable with in a 1 min period in a waste water facility
2. The non-active components of AHP and SHP products have been proven to be completely biodegradable. Using the Soap and Detergent Association's semi-continuous activated sludge (SCAS) confirming test, published in the Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, 42, 986 (1965),
Ingredients used: No NPE's
Recently, the use of NPEs in many consumer products has been eliminated, but many manufacturers of industrial and commercial detergents and disinfectants are still using these surfactants almost exclusively. NPEs have the potential to be acutely and chronically toxic, and estrogenic to aquatic animals. They are also finding their way into the environment. Since there are safer alternative surfactants readily available, is the use of nonylphenol ethoxylates really necessary?
ACCEL Products believe it isn't and, therefore, do not use NPE's in any of our products.
View Additional Technical Documents
|
