Several factors influence the choice of wipe: intended application, range of microbial efficacy, staff acceptability and cost.The key consideration when selecting a wipe for environmental hygiene in a healthcare setting is the intended application. A thorough analysis and understanding of what you want the wipe to deliver is the vital first step in choosing an appropriate wipe (see table below).

Whilst detergent wipes are usually the least expensive, they’re not optimal for most environmental hygiene tasks in healthcare settings – especially when pathogenic microorganisms are known or suspected (which is almost always!). This is because, when used incorrectly, detergent wipes are known to spread pathogenic micro-organisms between surfaces.For most cleaning/disinfection tasks in healthcare settings, a high-quality combined detergent/disinfectant wipe – such as Clinell Universal Wipes (green) – is the best choice. These wipes both clean and disinfect surfaces.In some circumstances, a higher level of disinfection is required. When dealing with spores (such as C. difficle), unidentified gastrointestinal pathogens, or during outbreaks, everyday disinfectants may not be appropriate. Here, a Clinell Sporicidal Wipe, offering the highest level of efficacy, is the best choice. Clinell Sporicidal Wipes (red) use peracetic acid to achieve powerful antimicrobial efficacy, whilst retaining strong cleaning performance and broad surface compatibility.Standard efficacy tests for disinfectant wipes are inconsistent; manufacturer claims should be interpreted with caution! This is especially true for sporicidal wipes. A wide range of ‘sporicidal’ wipes are coming onto the market. However, concerning published data shows that wipes marketed as being ‘sporicidal’ do not have meaningful activity against spores when tested under controlled laboratory conditions. When considering sporicidal wipes, you should ask: is it plausible that the chemicals in the wipe will have sporicidal activity? Does the laboratory data provided by the manufacturer support their claims? Were the tests performed in a reputable, accredited laboratory? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then your wipe probably isn’t sporicidal and you should look for an alternative.In the case of UHB, the hospital was using a two-step process for nursing led disinfectant tasks: an initial detergent wipe cleaning followed by an alcohol wipe disinfection step.The study evaluated the impact of changing this two-step method to a single-step detergent/disinfectant product (Clinell Universal Wipes). The study illustrated the importance and impact of choosing the right disinfectant wipe. This change in process resulted in a 55% reduction in the rate of MRSA acquisition.