taking wipes from a dispenser

Correctional facilities are using more and more disinfectant wipes to perform a "quick clean” and the practice is raising some concerns, according to Corrections.com. While disinfecting wipes do have their benefits — ready-to-use, minimize cross-contamination and convenient — there are some limitations and issues with these products. Experts say these issues are similar to those associated with hand sanitizers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand sanitizer doesn’t necessarily kill all types of germs and pathogens on the hands; they may not remove harmful pesticides or metals; and they don't penetrate beyond the surface of the hand. Because of this, hand sanitizers can leave a false sense of security - users believe it has eliminated harmful germs and pathogens, when in reality, they may not have.

The same can be true of disinfectant wipes. According to a report by the Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee in Ontario, Canada, one potential problem with some disinfectant wipes is that they may not be manufactured with a sufficient quantity of disinfectant. Also, the appropriate dwell time may not be considered.

But, there will be times when using a disinfectant wipe is the only option. In those cases, it's important to be aware of the following:

• Choose wipes that are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
• The active ingredient should be an appropriate hospital disinfectant.
• Pay attention to proper storage. Wipes must be kept wet; if dry, they must be discarded.
• All manufacturer’s use instructions must be followed
• The wipe must have a safety data sheet.
• If stored in a container, the container must be cleaned and disinfected first before filling it with the wipes.

For more information, read this full article here.