Use of 70% Alcohol for the Routine Removal of Microbial Hard Surface Bioburden in Life Science Cleanrooms

ABSTRACT

Alcohol-based disinfectants are used for the removal of microbial hard surface bioburden in Life science Cleanrooms. Evidence for using formulations containing 70% alcohol has been lost over time but probably originates from historical observations of the activity of 60–70% alcohol. Tradition is no longer adequate to inform contemporary cleaning practice. We evaluated the efficacy of ethanol, isopropanol and trade-specific denatured alcohol 7 against vegetative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus hirae using standardized European Suspension and Hard Surface tests. All three alcohols were effective at lower concentrations than the 70% standard. This constitutes the first evaluation of disinfectant formulations containing ≤70% alcohol using standard methodology. The utility of trade-specific denatured alcohol #7 and evidence-based cleanroom practice warrant further validation.

KEYWORDS:

• alcohol
• biocide
• cost effective
• disinfectant
• evidence-based practice
• sustainable

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The MEDSA Group (Wales, UK) with assistance from the BEACON Convergence project, supported by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union (ERDF) via the Welsh Government (WEFO). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The MEDSA Group (Wales, UK) with assistance from the BEACON Convergence project, supported by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union (ERDF) via the Welsh Government (WEFO). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.