Cleaning and disinfection are imperative to the healthcare professional to ensure patient- provider safety and to prevent disease transmission. Several products exist to meet standards set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for intermediate level disinfection. MicroCare Medical™ Spec Clean™ Disinfectant Wipes have not only met cleaning and disinfection requirements, but have exceeded the standards by developing a product that reflects provider needs and can be used in various settings. Backed by research, this product demonstrates tuberculocidal, fungicidal, bactericidal, and virucidal efficacy, while retaining integrity of office equipment.
Contact time, defined as “the amount of time a disinfectant needs to sit on a surface, without being wiped away or disturbed, to effectively kill germs”, is a critical aspect of disinfectants.1 Spec Clean Disinfectant™ Wipes have a 3 minute contact time, meaning this germicide is able to kill Tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, COVID, HIV and other broad spectrum bloodborne pathogens in 3 minutes.2 Many products utilize solvents to increase the chemical action needed to achieve disinfection of pathogens while reducing the contact time. However, solvents like isopropanol ethanol or glycol ethers have demonstrated cracking and corroding of equipment over time. Spec Clean™ Disinfectant Wipes are water-based and free of solvents, so wipes stay saturated the entire time they are used to ensure adequate contact time, and the lack of solvents supports long-term integrity of office equipment.2 Figure 1 identifies a study comparing Spec Clean™ Disinfectant Wipes to other name brand disinfectants over one year. The effects of these products were evaluated on surfaces including vinyl upholstery, tubing, and clear plastic light lens material. After 2,000 wipe applications, Spec Clean™ Disinfectant Wipes showed the least harmful impact on surfaces.3
With the healthcare provider in mind, Spec Clean™ Disinfectant Wipes were designed as a “one-step” cleaner and disinfectant.2 In the presence of biohazards, these disinfectant wipes should initially be used to clean surfaces free of blood and saliva that are reservoirs for harmful microorganisms. Fresh wipes should then be used to disinfect with a 3-minute contact time for complete removal of transmissible bacteria, viruses, and fungi.2 In the absence of biohazards, Spec Clean™ Disinfectant Wipes can be used without gloves, so individuals not providing treatment can keep areas like front desks, doorknobs, and waiting rooms free of harmful microorganisms.2
Five key opinion leaders (KOL) completed a survey after using Spec Clean™ Disinfectant Wipes. A few results are shown below:
"The drying time was slow on vinyl, but fast on hard surfaces. No product can clean and disinfect at the same time, but a product that can do both is preferred. I do like the idea of a less toxic wipe.”- KOL #5
“The wipes cleaned well, smelled pleasant, and had the perfect amount of liquid saturation. The only critique I have is the wipe texture. They lack grip or traction, so wiping a soft surface was challenging.”-KOL #4
When looking for a product that meets intermediate level disinfectant requirements while retaining integrity of surfaces over time, MicroCare Medical™ Spec Clean™ Disinfectant Wipes have surpassed these standards. Oral health providers everywhere can resonate with equipment that has been suscept to harsh chemicals from years of disinfectant use. Spec Clean™ Disinfectant Wipes have disseminated these concerns through their one-step system that can be trusted by healthcare professionals to keep themselves, their patients, and their equipment, safe.
References
1. Disinfection and Sterilization [Internet]. CDC; 2019 [cited 6 May 2024]. Available from https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/disinfection/index.html
2. Spec Clean Disinfectant Wipes Technical Bulletin. Microcare. (2024).
3. MicroCare Medical . (2024). Spec CleanTM Disinfectant Wipes: One Step Cleaner/Disinfectant/Deodorizer. MicroCare. https://www.microcare.com/getmedia/4dc71ad1-f11a-4d61-86f6-bc2318fc6a02/Spec-Clean-Disinfectant-Wipes_Sell-Sheet-24072.pdf
