Bleach and C diff

Specialties Disease

Published

Specializes in Emergency.

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!

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

Best wishes!

Specializes in Emergency.

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

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.

Specializes in Emergency.

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

Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.

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.

Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.

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

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

Specializes in Emergency.

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.

Specializes in Emergency.

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

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!

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!

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