PubMed · 10119554
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
C Fluke. 1992. Disinfectants.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10119554/
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
Because a worker complained of irritated eyes and throat due to glutaraldehyde (GA) in an endoscope syringe room, the automated endoscope washers and GA liquid stored in reserve were isolated in a separate room. A ventilation system was installed in this room, and the packing of the automated endoscope washers was changed. However, since the obnoxious smell of GA still remained in the endoscope syringe room, we had to determine the source of the smell. A plastic bucket with a cap was found to be filled with GA for disinfection of the endoscope apparatus. GA had evaporated when dispersed around the bucket, resulting in the obnoxious smell. The plastic bucket was replaced with a different type of container. Moreover, GA from the separate room did not affect the concentration of GA in the working area because the separate room for the automated endoscope washers had twice the ventilation volume proposed by the guidelines of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates of the USA and the Healthcare Engineering Association of Japan. Consequently, we reconfirmed the significance of working environment improvement after clarifying the source of the harmful substance.
In the area of hand hygiene, European Norms exist, or are under development, with regard to protective gloves and for assessing the antimicrobial efficacy of hand disinfectants. Important norms for gloves are EN 420 (General requirements), EN 374 (Protective gloves against chemicals and microorganisms) and EN 455 (Medical gloves for single use). A suspension test for the demonstration of bactericidal activity (prEN 12054) is obligatory for hand disinfectants in all fields of application; a test to prove activity against yeasts applies only to hygienic hand rub. (Optional) Claims for virucidal activities can be substantiated by prEN 1476 and, in future, for mycobactericidal capacity by a test which is still under development. In vivo tests exist for post-contamination treatments, hygienic hand wash and hygienic hand rub (EN 1499 and EN 1500 respectively), and for the preoperative surgical hand rub/wash (prEN 12791). The two former tests employ artificially contaminated hands, the latter test is done with clean hands. All in vivo tests use reference hand treatments (with unmedicated soap or 2-propanol 60% (vol.) or 1-propanol 60% (vol.), respectively) against the results of which are compared with those achieved with the product under test and with the same volunteers. An antiseptic soap needs to be significantly more efficacious than unmedicated soap, a product for hygienic hand rub must not be inferior to the reference treatment with 2-propanol, and a surgical hand disinfectant must not cause a smaller bacterial reduction than the reference preparation with 1-propanol, immediately, and after 3 h. An (optional) claim for sustained activity of a surgical disinfectant needs to be demonstrated by achieving a significantly stronger bacterial reduction after 3 h than the reference preparation.
When sodium nitrite is spiked into phenolic waters, 2-nitrophenol is produced immediately while 4-nitrophenol forms in minor yield after an induction period. The reaction occurs at ambient temperature under acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions. The reaction also occurs in the dark. The nature and yield of the products formed in the dark are analogous to that obtained under ordinary light. Results show that the formation of 2-nitrophenol is first order in nitrite, however, within a narrow range of concentrations. No such order of reaction could be determined for 4-nitrophenol, the yield of which increases in presence of excess nitrite ions and at high nitrite to phenol ratios. Results of this study indicate that NO(2)(-) is the active species in the reaction, attacking the phenol ring at the ortho position and at the same time undergoing a para-substitution in excess nitrite atmosphere. Neither any photo-induced oxidation nor any nitronium ion, NO(2)(+) formation is involved as active species in the nitration of phenol. Our study indicates that in environmental waters a simple contact of nitrite ion with phenolic wastewaters under ambient conditions may form mononitrophenols, which are toxic to aquatic species.