Bleach and C diff

[sauconyrunner]

I get a lot of push back (mostly from the environmental Svcs supervisor) at my hospital when I ask for some bleach cleaning of high touch surfaces when we have a high concentration of C diff patients on one unit. I do this of course, pro-actively, so that 6 months down the road we do not have a unit FULL of C. diff, and a bunch of staff who have also had the C. diff experience! (the supervisor always wants to clean with "coverage" which will just move the spores around!) If C diff was visible like Lice, I'd have a much easier time, I am sure.

I was told though recently that one hospital has gone completely bleach free after a bad respiratory experience of the staff. Apparently they are using a different product that kills the C diff spores.

I've been researching it, but can not seem to find such a product. Sooooooooooooo...if any knows of anything can you please share!

[merlee]

Where is your Infection control nurse? Or Infectious Disease Specialist? They are the ones who should be fighting this battle.

Best wishes!

[sauconyrunner]

Errr, Merlee, I am the Infection Prevention Nurse. So yes, I am the one to be fighting this battle... :)

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I remember being told during my microbiology class in December, about this 'new' product or procedure being used for c-diff. I'll have to dig out my notes and see if I can find the name of the product or procedure. From what I recall, I think it was being said by my micro teacher (heads up the lab in the hospital) that the product/procedure was expensive but very effective.

[sauconyrunner]

Thanks CT pixie. I personally love the smell of bleach, but...Hey I don't have COPD or pneumonia, or poorly controlled asthma....

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

I can't for the life of me remember the name of the wipes my ER transitioned to from clorox, but they come in a white tub with purple top and POP up dispenser for wipes. They had previously used wipes in a red lid tub but found out it was effective against everything EXCEPT c diff and switched to bleach. I personally can't stand the smell or film left by clorox wipes but loved the new purple top ones. The tub lists everything it kills which ranged from c diff and small pox to the flu and herpes viruses lol.

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

Nevermind, found the manufacturers website, it lists all of their different products

http://www.pdipdi.com/healthcare/surface_disinfect.aspx

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

Akwaton? New non-toxic disinfectant could tackle hospital infections

[sauconyrunner]

Oh I gave up! I fund a product advertised that would kill the C diff, but it's not even yet in trials to be approved by the FDA. SO.

bring on the bleach.

We have the purple top wipes, they do not kill C diff... of course it could be a different wipe that has a purple top.

[sauconyrunner]

Nope the purple top snaiwipes, kill lots of things, but not C diff. Bleach baby bleach.

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

Is it Performic Acid then? I'm studying for the CBIC exam and just came across it. I don't know why I want to know so badly!

[caughtbuckinoff]

I studied C. difficile in my micro class and one of the better articles was this: Measures to Control and Prevent Clostridium difficile Infection

I did stumble across Aseptix Technologies but I don't know whether these products have been properly researched and approved.

Its either bleach or highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide to kill C. difficile, according to what current research seems to show. I really dislike the smell of H202 though, lol. Bring on the bleach!