Page 81 - School Infection Control Handbook - 2010

Chapter 4: Selection of Products, Dispensing Equipment, and Application Systems
76
Criteria
Conventional
Mop and Bucket
Microfiber Mop
Pads and Bucket
Reusable Microfiber
Cloths
Reusable
Cotton
Cloths
Disposable Cotton
or Paper Towels
Presaturated
Wipes for Surfaces
Ability to
Maintain
Adequate
Contact/Dwell
Time to Kill
Microbes
Good Superior – microfiber
cloths have such a
high density and
surface area that they
can absorb up to 7
times their weight in
water and retain that
moisture
Superior – microfiber
cloths have such a high
density and surface area
that they can absorb up
to 7 times their weight
in water and retain that
moisture
Good Cotton is better than
paper but retains
less moisture than
microfiber
Can dry out on
surface
Although wipes are
designed to provide
a premeasured
amount of solution,
the possible uneven
saturation level
within the container
may compromise
this
Cross-
Contamination
Advantages
and
Disadvantages
Solutions must be
changed regularly
Mop must be
cleaned and dried
or microbes will
colonize on the
fibers
A bucket divided
for clean and dirty
water prevents
cross-
contamination
when mops are
dipped back into
solution
Disinfecting mop
is difficult; one
hazardous practice
is soaking
overnight in bleach
Prevents cross-
contamination if a
color-coding system
is used and if changed
when types of uses or
rooms change
Because mop head is
not dipped back into
the solution, there is
no cross-
contamination of
solution in bucket
Increased fiber
surface area and static
electric charge enable
it to better hold
captured microbes
Prevents cross-
contamination if
changed regularly and
when uses or rooms
change
Increased fiber surface
area and static electric
charge enable it to
better hold captured
microbes
Although microfiber
needs to be washed and
dried, it dries faster
than cotton, so there is
less chance for
microbes to proliferate
Can serve as a
breeding
ground for
microbes and
cause cross-
contamination
if not
laundered and
dried before
reuse
Cross-
contamination may
occur between
towel dispenser
handle and
dispensers,
especially if located
in splash zone
Microbes can
survive on the cloth
and can cause cross-
contamination
Avoids cross-
contamination that
might occur from
dipping cloths back
into solution