Corporate Research and Engineering, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, WI.
Am J Infect Control. 2013 Oct;41(10):908-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.01.017. Epub 2013 Apr 25.
Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant problem in hospitals, and environmental surfaces have been implicated as a source of HAIs in the hospital environment. Furthermore, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria can persist on dry environmental surfaces for as long as several months. Poorly cleaned surfaces may serve as vehicles for microbes, which may then be transferred to patients.
Cotton and microfiber towels were both tested for their abilities to bind quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs). The towels were exposed to 3 commercially available disinfectants for 0.5, 30, and 180 minutes. Germicidal spray tests (GSTs) were performed for all towel eluates in accordance with the AOAC International method 961.02. Cotton towel eluates were analyzed for QAC concentration using high-performance liquid chromatography.
QAC concentrations were reduced by up to 85.3% after exposure to cotton towels, resulting in failure of the disinfectants exposed to cotton towels in 96% of the GSTs.
The use of cotton towels with QAC-based cleansers should be reconsidered, particularly in hospitals where effective cleaning of the patient environment is needed to reduce the risk of HAIs.
医院内的卫生保健相关感染（HAI）是一个严重的问题，环境表面已被认为是医院环境中 HAI 的来源之一。此外，革兰氏阴性菌和革兰氏阳性菌可以在干燥的环境表面上存活长达数月。清洁不良的表面可能成为微生物的载体，然后这些微生物可能会转移到患者身上。
分别测试了棉质毛巾和微纤维毛巾对季铵盐化合物（QAC）的结合能力。将毛巾暴露于 3 种市售消毒剂中 0.5、30 和 180 分钟。根据 AOAC 国际方法 961.02 对所有毛巾洗脱液进行杀菌喷雾测试（GST）。使用高效液相色谱法分析棉质毛巾洗脱液中的 QAC 浓度。
暴露于棉质毛巾后，QAC 浓度降低了 85.3%，导致暴露于棉质毛巾的消毒剂在 96%的 GST 中失效。
应重新考虑使用含有 QAC 的清洁剂的棉质毛巾，特别是在需要有效清洁患者环境以降低 HAI 风险的医院。
