ABSTRACT
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 563 Cleaning Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 566 Choice of Disinfecting Chemicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567
Alcohols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567 Aldehydes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 568 Halogens and Halogen-Containing Compounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 568 Quaternary Ammonium Compounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 569 Biguanide Disinfectants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 569 Phenol and Phenolic Derivatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 569
Analytical Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 569 Chromatographic Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572 Spectrophotometric Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572
Infrared . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572 Ultraviolet/Visible Spectroscopy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572
Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573
INTRODUCTION
In the United States alone, nearly 9 million people work in the health care professions.1
Consequently, when proper infection control measures are not followed, the risk of disease transmission to the community results. Infection control does not begin and end with animate objects but includes inanimate objects as well. Environmental surfaces may become contaminated by human pathogens. Extensive environmental contamination has been demonstrated in rooms housing patients with antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus.2 Microbes (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) can be carried from one person to another on the surface of any equipment that is shared between them unless the equipment is decontaminated between use. They can also be carried on the skin surface,
