Cleaning & Disinfecting Environmental Surfaces

Cleaning is the necessary first step of any disinfection process. Cleaning removes organic matter, salts, and visible soils, all of which interfere with microbial inactivation. The physical action of scrubbing with detergents and surfactants and rinsing with water removes substantial numbers of microorganisms. If a surface is not cleaned first, the success of the disinfection process can be compromised. Removal of all visible blood and inorganic and organic matter can be as critical as the germicidal activity of the disinfecting agent. When a surface cannot be cleaned adequately, it should be protected with barriers.

Disinfection destroys most pathogenic and other microorganisms by physical or chemical means. In contrast, sterilization destroys all microorganisms, including substantial numbers of resistant bacterial spores, by heat (steam autoclave, dry heat, and unsaturated chemical vapor) or liquid chemical sterilants. Disinfection does not ensure the degree of safety associated with sterilization processes.

Environmental surfaces can be divided into clinical contact surfaces and housekeeping surfaces. Clinical contact surfaces can be directly contaminated from patient materials either by direct spray or spatter generated during dental procedures or by contact with gloved hands of dental health care personnel. These surfaces can subsequently contaminate other instruments, devices, hands, or gloves. Housekeeping surfaces (e.g., walls, floors, sinks) are not directly touched during dental treatment and carry the lowest risk of disease transmission.

Recommendations for Cleaning and Disinfecting Environmental Surfaces

 

What are the types of environmental surfaces in a dental facility?

Environmental Surface Type

Examples

Recommendations for Cleaning and Disinfecting*

Clinical contact Light handles
Switches
Dental radiograph equipment
Computers
Drawer handles
Faucets
Use surface barriers to protect, particularly for surfaces that are hard to clean, and change barriers between patients. Use surface barriers to speed operatory turnaround.
OR
Clean and disinfect surfaces that are not barrier protected using an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with a low-level (i.e., HIV and HBV label claims) to intermediate-level (i.e., tuberculocidal claim) activity after each patient. Use an intermediate-level disinfectant if visibly contaminated with blood.
Housekeeping Floors
Walls
Sinks

 

Clean with a detergent and water or an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant/detergent on a routine basis, and when visibly soiled.

Clean mops and cloths after use and allow to dry before reuse; or use single-use, disposable mop heads or cloths.

Prepare fresh cleaning or EPA-registered disinfecting
solutions daily and as instructed by the manufacturer.

Clean walls, blinds, and window curtains in patient-care areas when they are visibly dusty or soiled.

* High-level disinfectants should never be used on environmental surfaces.

Abbreviation: EPA, Environmental Protection Agency

There are three levels of disinfection: high, intermediate, and low. High-level disinfectants, such as glutaraldehyde, are used as chemical sterilants and should never be used on environmental surfaces. Intermediate-level disinfectants are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and have a tuberculocidal claim, and low-level disinfectant are EPA-registered without a tuberculocidal claim (i.e., hepatitis B virus and HIV label claims).

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates low- and intermediate-level disinfectants that are used on environmental surfaces (clinical contact surfaces and housekeeping). The Food and Drug Administration regulates liquid chemical sterilants/high-level disinfectants (e.g., glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and peracetic acid) used on heat-sensitive semicritical patient care devices.

CDC does not test, evaluate, or otherwise recommend specific chemical germicides. The CDC dental guidelines pdf icon[PDF-1.2M] provide overall guidance for dental health care personnel to choose from among general classes of products based on infection prevention and control principles. This guidance recommends appropriate application of liquid chemical disinfectants registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in dental health care settings.

The EPA maintains a list of selected EPA-registered disinfectantsexternal icon.

The ability to kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis is used as a benchmark to measure how well a disinfectant can kill germs. Mycobacteria have among the highest levels of resistance of all microorganisms. Therefore, any germicide with a tuberculocidal claim is considered capable of inactivating a broad spectrum of pathogens, including less resistant organisms such as bloodborne pathogens (e.g., hepatitis B and C viruses, HIV). The use of such products on environmental surfaces plays no role in preventing the spread of tuberculosis (which is airborne).

When used correctly, commercially available disposable disinfectant wipes, cloths, or towelettes are effective for cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces in dental settings. Any disinfectant used in a dental setting should be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and be approved for use in health care settings (i.e., hospital grade). Dental health care personnel should always follow manufacturer recommendations for use of cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants (e.g., amount, dilution, contact time, safe use, disposal). Disinfectant wipes that you can buy at the grocery store are not EPA-registered and are not recommended for use in a dental setting.

Both techniques refer to the two-step procedure used to clean and disinfect environmental surfaces. If using liquid disinfectant, the user would spray the surface with the disinfectant and wipe it using a disposable towel to clean the surface (“spray-wipe”), followed by another “spray” to disinfect the surface. When using disposable disinfectant wipes, the process is described as wipe-discard-wipe because the user uses one wipe to clean the surface, discards the wipe, and uses a second wipe to disinfect the surface. Disinfectant products should not be used as cleaners unless the label indicates the product is suitable for such use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends following manufacturer recommendations for use (e.g., amount, dilution, contact time, safe use, disposal).  

Because of the risks associated with exposure to chemical disinfectants and contaminated surfaces, dental health care personnel (DHCP) should wear appropriate PPE to prevent exposure to infectious agents or chemicals PPE can include gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection. Chemical- and puncture-resistant utility gloves offer more protection than patient examination gloves when using hazardous chemicals. DHCP should follow manufacturer instructions and review the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet (formerly called Material Safety Data Sheet) regarding correct procedures for handling or working with hazardous chemicals.

General-purpose utility gloves are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration because they are not promoted for medical use. Thus, they can be washed and disinfected for reuse.

Consult the manufacturer about appropriate barrier use and disinfection/sterilization procedures for electronic equipment. In the absence of a manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, use barrier protective coverings as appropriate for noncritical equipment surfaces that are 1) touched frequently with gloved hands during patient care, 2) likely to become contaminated with blood or body substances, or 3) hard to clean (e.g., computer keyboards).

Radiography equipment such as the radiograph tube head/cone/arm and control panel should be protected with surface barriers that are changed after each patient. If barriers are not used, equipment that has come into contact with gloved hands of dental health care personnel or contaminated film packets should be cleaned and then disinfected after each patient use.

Digital radiography sensors are considered semicritical and should be protected with a Food and Drug Administration- (FDA-) cleared barrier to reduce contamination during use, followed by cleaning and heat sterilization or high-level disinfection between patients. If the item cannot tolerate these procedures then, at a minimum, it should be protected with an FDA-cleared barrier and cleaned and disinfected with an Environmental Protection Agency-registered hospital disinfectant with intermediate-level (i.e., tuberculocidal claim) activity, between patients. Because these items vary by manufacturer, refer to manufacturer instructions for reprocessing.

Carpeting and cloth furnishings are harder to keep clean than nonporous, hard-surface flooring, and cannot be reliably disinfected, especially after spills of blood and body substances. Carpeted flooring and upholstered furnishings are not recommended for use in dental operatories, laboratories, or instrument processing areas.

References

CDC. Basic Expectations for Safe Care Training Module 8 – Environmental Infection Prevention and Control. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/safe-care-modules.htm. Accessed May 8, 2018.

CDC. Guidelines for environmental infection control in health-care facilities: recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). MMWR 2003; 52 (No. RR-10): 1–48. https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/guidelines/eic_in_HCF_03.pdf pdf icon[PDF-5M].  Accessed March 16, 2016.

CDC. Guidelines for infection control in dental health-care settings – 2003. MMWR 2003; 52(No. RR-17):1–66. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5217.pdf pdf icon[PDF-1.2M]. Accessed March 16, 2016.

Environmental Protection Agency list of registered hospital grade disinfectants. Available at: www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/selected-epa-registered-disinfectantsexternal icon. Accessed March 16, 2016.

Miller CH, Palenik CJ. Surface and Equipment Asepsis. In: Miller CH, Palenik DJ, eds. Infection Control and Management of Hazardous Materials for the Dental Team, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby: 2009:171–185.

Molinari JA, Harte JA. How to Choose and Use Environmental Surface Disinfectants. In: Molinari JA, Harte JA eds. Cottone’s Practical Infection Control in Dentistry, 3rd ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009:185–193.

Rutala WA, Weber DJ, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities, 2008:1–158. https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/guidelines/Disinfection_Nov_2008.pdf pdf icon[PDF-948K].  Accessed March 16, 2016.

Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. 2007 Guideline for isolation precautions: preventing transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings 2007:1–219. https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/isolation/Isolation2007.pdf pdf icon[PDF-1.9M].  Accessed March 16, 2016.

US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CFR Part 1910.1030. Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens: Needlestick and Other Sharps Injuries: Final Rule. Federal Register 2001;66:5317–5325. Updated from and including 29 CFR Part 1910.1030. Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens; final rule. Federal Register 1991;56:64003–64182. https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10051external icon.  Accessed March 16, 2016.

US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CFR 1910.1200. Hazard communication. Federal Register 2012;77:17574-17896. https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=10099external icon.  Accessed March 16, 2016.