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Dilution dysfunction: evaluation of automated disinfectant dispenser systems in 10 hospitals demonstrates a need for improved monitoring to ensure that correct disinfectant concentrations are delivered

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2024

Jennifer L. Cadnum ,
Claire E. Kaple Open the ORCID record for Claire E. Kaple [Opens in a new window] ,
Elizabeth C. Eckstein ,
Elie A. Saade Open the ORCID record for Elie A. Saade [Opens in a new window] ,
Amy J. Ray ,
Trina F. Zabarsky ,
Bernardino J. Guerrero ,
Mohamed H. Yassin  and
Curtis J. Donskey Open the ORCID record for Curtis J. Donskey [Opens in a new window]
Jennifer L. Cadnum
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
Claire E. Kaple
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
Elizabeth C. Eckstein
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
Elie A. Saade
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
Amy J. Ray
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
Trina F. Zabarsky
Affiliation:
Environmental Programs Service, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, USA
Bernardino J. Guerrero
Affiliation:
Environmental Programs Service, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, USA
Mohamed H. Yassin
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine & Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Curtis J. Donskey*
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
*
Corresponding author: Curtis J. Donskey; Email: curtis.donskey@va.gov
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Abstract

Automated dispensers that dilute concentrated disinfectants with water are commonly used in healthcare facilities. In a point-prevalence product evaluation, 9 of 10 (90%) hospitals using dilutable disinfectants had 1 or more malfunctioning dispensers. Twenty-nine of 107 (27.1%) systems dispensed product with lower-than-expected concentrations, including 15 (14.0%) with no detectable disinfectant.

Type
Concise Communication
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 45 , Issue 11 , November 2024 , pp. 1362 - 1365
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Creative Commons
This is a work of the US Government and is not subject to copyright protection within the United States. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
Copyright
© Department of Veterans Affairs, 2024

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References

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