Enhanced Bleach Disinfectants Battle Emerging Pathogens

A range of bleach germicidal disinfectants now meet the updated U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA; Washington, DC, USA) recommended standards, killing 99.9999% of C. difficile spores within three minutes, even in the presence of three-part organic soil load.

The Clorox Healthcare (Grapevine, TX, USA) Bleach Germicidal Wipes are now EPA-registered to kill 58 microorganisms in three minutes or less, while Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Cleaners are now EPA-registered to kill 50 microorganisms in three minutes or less. The list includes several emerging viral pathogens, such as Enterovirus D68, severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-associated Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the Measles virus, and Influenza A and Influenza B viruses.


Both Bleach Germicidal Disinfectants also meet the latest EPA Interim Guidance (issued in June 2014), which update C. difficile testing standards to measure disinfection efficacy in the presence of a three-part organic soil load. Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Wipes and Bleach Germicidal Cleaners have also gained disinfecting claims for several common causes of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), including Staphylococcus epidermidis (CoNS), Candida glabrata, and Enteroccocus hirae.

“The presence of soil creates a more challenging and more realistic environment for disinfection, given that many studies show surfaces are frequently missed during the pre-cleaning step required by the EPA before disinfection against C. difficile spores,” said Hedi Modaressi, manager of the R&D department at Clorox Healthcare. “That's why we proactively tested our ready-to-use bleach germicidal disinfectants using current EPA recommended standards, which more accurately mimic the real-world conditions they need to perform in to help keep the patient environment clean and safe.”

“At Clorox Healthcare, we are dedicated to safeguarding patient environments and continuously strive to ensure our surface disinfectants meet the needs of the ever-changing healthcare environment,” says Lynda Lurie, director of marketing at Clorox Healthcare. “We made these changes proactively so that healthcare professionals can be prepared for whatever comes through their doors, wherever care is delivered.”

C. difficile infection (CDI) is a serious illness resulting from infection of the internal lining of the colon, and typically develops after the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that disrupt normal bowel flora, allowing C. difficile to flourish. It is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea in industrialized countries. The risk of CDI is particularly high in patients aged 65 years and older, and disease recurrence occurs in up to 25% of patients within 30 days of initial treatment.

Related Links:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Clorox Healthcare