Certain environments need to be disinfected as well as cleaned. The key to proper disinfection is the cleaning solution a cleaner chooses. But not all disinfectants work equally well. In fact, both in-house and professional cleaning crews need to understand the disinfecting power their cleaning solutions offer. They need to know the differences between high- and low-level disinfectants.
You might be familiar with cleaning providers offering various levels of disinfection. An area with low disinfection requirements is one in which the risk of infection is relatively low. Thorough disinfection is not required because the threat of pathogens in that environment is insignificant.
An area with high disinfection requirements is just the opposite. It presents viruses, bacterial spores, and other pathogens that represent a substantial risk of infection. In order to protect employees and visitors, cleaners would employ a high-level disinfection strategy.
Cleaning Solution Effectiveness
As for disinfectants themselves, their effectiveness partially determines classification as high or low-level. High-level disinfectants:
- eliminate a broad spectrum of microorganisms.
- eliminate most viruses and bacteria, along with hard-to-kill pathogens.
Where the risk of infection is high, cleaners cannot take any chances with the most serious pathogens. They need cleaning solutions they know will work. In less risky environments, they can utilize low-level disinfectants that:
- eliminate a smaller range of microorganisms.
- eliminate some vegetative bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Low-level disinfectants are largely ineffective against spores and mycobacteria. But for your every day, run-of-the-mill bacteria and viruses, they do just fine.
Also know that high- and low-level disinfectants are manufactured with different chemical compositions. Your typical high-level disinfectant contains a strong chemical like hydrogen peroxide or glutaraldehyde. Meanwhile, low-level disinfectants are more likely to feature quaternary ammonium, isopropyl, and ethyl alcohol.
High- and Low-Level Use Cases
The use cases for high- and low-level disinfectants vary quite a bit. Typically, high-level disinfectants are reserved for healthcare settings involving semi-critical items. A good example would be medical tools that contact mucous membranes or broken skin. They must always be pathogen free.
High-level disinfectants are utilized to clean areas with considerable risk of infection. Examples would include operating rooms and dental offices.
Low-level use cases include areas with a lower risk of infection. Think of administrative offices, employee break rooms, etc. Low-level disinfectants are suitable for cleaning noncritical medical items that might come in contact with unbroken skin.
Whether you are talking spaces, medical devices, or even things like office furniture and equipment, the guiding principle is always risk of infection. Any situation in which that risk is high qualifies as a use case for high-level disinfectants. Every other situation is more suited to low-level disinfectants.
Safety and Regulatory Considerations
Cleaning services need to be cognizant of both safety and regulatory considerations when disinfecting. For example, many high-level disinfectants require careful handling. Some require the use of personal protective equipment. Low-level disinfectants are less likely to harm cleaners or damage surfaces.
From a regulatory standpoint, it goes without saying that low-level disinfectants face less stringent rules compared to their high-level counterparts. The latter require more stringent regulation because of their higher potency.
For the record, it is not unusual for a low-level disinfectant to be EPA-registered as ‘hospital grade’. A typical hospital-grade disinfectant is a low-level disinfectant. There are exceptions to the rule, so cleaners should be aware of that.
Does your work environment require cleaning with either high or low-level disinfectants? If so, it pays to know the differences between them. Disinfecting a critical area with a low-level disinfectant might not get the job done. Likewise, cleaning a low-risk area with a high-level disinfectant amounts to overkill.
