School Infection Control Handbook - 2010

Appendix B: Selection of Products, Dispensing Equipment, and Application Systems

o Effective against / kills methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on hard, nonporous surfaces. Directions for Use — READ AND FOLLOW CAREFULLY This section usually makes up the bulk of the label and specifies all the steps that must be followed to apply the product safely and effectively. It typically contains the following: x Misuse statement – The statement that always appears immediately under the Directions for Use heading is the misuse statement: “It is a violation of federal law to use this product in any manner inconsistent with its labeling.” This statement means that all of the directions and precautions on the label must be followed; any other actions could be considered to be a violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. x Area(s) of use –General locations where a disinfectant may be used, such as in or around o Hospitals and nursing homes (special data requirements) o Schools other than preschools and daycare facilities o Museums and libraries, sports facilities, office buildings x Use sites and surfaces – Specific places, items, or surfaces where the product may be applied. o Almost all disinfectants are registered for use only on hard, nonporous surfaces (e.g., floors, walls, countertops, stainless steel, sealed tile, plastic, etc.). o Carpet sanitizers are registered for spot treatment use on carpets, which are porous. o Food-contact sanitizers are only registered for use on hard, nonporous food- contact surfaces. x Water hardness – Some disinfectants do not work as well in hard water, which contains magnesium and calcium. o Quaternary ammonium compounds may not be as effective in hard water. o Antimicrobial products may be tested for efficacy in the presence of hard water at 200 to 400 parts per million of hard water. If a product passes this test, the label will state the hardness level of the water in which the product was tested and was found effective. x Organic load – Disinfectants can be deactivated by many organic materials, such as blood, protein, food, and body waste. o If the label includes the statement, “kills germs on precleaned environmental surfaces,” then the surface must be cleaned and rinsed before being disinfected. o For a statement such as “effective against stated germs in the presence of 5% serum or 5% organic load or bioburden,” then the product will work in the presence of a small amount of organic matter, but the label will direct to the user to first remove the visible dirt.

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