Application of EN 16615 (4-Field Test) for the Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of the Selected Commercial and Self-Made Disinfectant Wipes

Abstract

The purpose of disinfectants is to reduce microorganisms on a contaminated surface and to prevent the spread of microorganisms. The relatively new EN 16615 simulates disinfection by wiping and allows for assessing the recovery of microorganisms from the surface and, importantly, the degree of spread of microorganisms when the surface is disinfected by wiping. For the first time, using this standard, the tested products in the form of commercial disinfectant wipes were compared with self-made wipes soaked in respective disinfectant liquids. The disinfected surfaces were simulated by homogeneous polyvinyl chloride plates. The studies were carried out not only with the standard, but also with clinical multidrug-resistant microbial strains. Based on the research, it can be concluded that the most effective products in the disinfection process (log10 reduction of ≥5) with the shortest contact time (1 min) were products containing ethanol, propanol, and quaternary ammonium compounds (self-made wipes) and propanol (commercial wipes). The least effective products (log10 reduction of <5) in terms of the contact time declared by the manufacturer were products containing ethanol and sodium hypochlorite (commercial wipes). Much better antimicrobial activity of self-made wipes was observed in comparison to the activity of the commercial wipes.

Contact time has limited impact on the efficacy of disinfectant towelettes when tested under conditions reflective of realistic use

“…Only QAC3 was able to achieve an average 5-log reduction under the testing conditions used in this study; even then, this was only achieved against P. aeruginosa, not S. aureus. This discrepancy in performance under the novel testing conditions is not surprising, as this has been seen previously in the literature when testing commercial disinfectant towelette products under conditions more re ective of realistic use [23,31]. Further, others [32] have found that the method used to test disinfectant e cacy results in signi cant differences in performance.…”

Contact time has limited impact on the efficacy of disinfectant towelettes when tested under conditions reflective of realistic use

“…Only QAC3 was able to achieve an average 5-log reduction under the testing conditions used in this study; even then, this was only achieved against P. aeruginosa , not S. aureus. This discrepancy in performance under the novel testing conditions is not surprising, as this has been seen previously in the literature when testing commercial disinfectant towelette products under conditions more reflective of realistic use [ 23 , 31 ]. Further, others [ 32 ] have found that the method used to test disinfectant efficacy results in significant differences in performance.…”