Hospital Grade Disinfectants
A hospital-grade disinfectant is registered with the EPA as a hospital-level solution that destroys bacteria, pathogenic viruses, and fungi to provide protection from a variety of disease-causing germs. It earns this status once it has passed the microbiological TGA Disinfectant Test to confirm bactericidal activity, as well as the relevant trials needed to support claims relating to efficacy against viruses and fungi.
These disinfectants are:
* intended for use on inanimate objects (usually hard, non-porous surfaces)
* not intended for use on medical devices
At the core, hospital-grade disinfectants only require testing against two organisms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (blue-green pus bacteria) and Staphylococcus aureus (harmless skin bacteria that can infect the lungs of immunocompromised individuals, resulting in sepsis and death). So, when a product is labelled as hospital-grade and states that it works against 99.9% of all bacteria, viruses, and fungi, this means that it has undergone independent testing and is regulated by the EPA.
How Effective Are Disinfecting Wipes?
Disinfecting wipes can be highly effective when selected and used correctly.
As an example, 70% isopropyl alcohol is more effective than 99% isopropyl alcohol against COVID-19. That’s because 70% isopropyl weakens and breaks down the virus’ cell wall to dissolve and kill it. However, at 99% it can cause immediate scarring and thickening of the cell wall before it’s penetrated, which inadvertently protects the virus.
It’s important to read the product labelling carefully and select the product that best meets your needs. For instance, you may want to ensure that a certain product is suitable for food-contact or non-food-contact surfaces, or for use on skin.
Can You Use Disinfecting Wipes on Skin?
Yes, some can be used on the skin, like our 70% alcohol skin swabs. However, it’s useful to consider the environment and how to minimise unnecessary waste. So, an isopropyl alcohol antibacterial skin sanitiser may be a better choice in protecting you from germs in some instances. Again, it comes down to selecting the most appropriate product.
Most hospital-grade wipes can be harsh on unbroken skin so are not recommended for regular dermal cleansing unless operating in an environment that demands it. They are also not intended for wiping food as they are punitive on soft tissue and not to be ingested. For safety purposes, they’re best kept away from broken skin and mucosal areas (keep away from eyes, nose, and mouth).
According to the TGA, "skin disinfectant" means an antiseptic that is intended for application to intact, healthy skin to prevent the transmission of transient or resident skin bacteria from person to person or from a surgical operation site to underlying tissues. Skin disinfectants also include, but are not limited to, antimicrobial and antiseptic soaps, hygienic hand washes, hygienic hand rubs, surgical hand rubs, scrubs, and washes.
