Abstract Background: Cross-contamination from contaminated wiping cloths is an underrecognized route of pathogen transmission in healthcare settings. Reused, misapplied, or ineffective disinfectants can transfer viable bacteria between surfaces. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa persist under hospital conditions and are frequently isolated in healthcare environments. While many studies assess bacterial inactivation, few examine how chemistry and wipe material influence transfer when bacterial inactivation is incomplete. Methods: Hydrogen peroxide (HP), a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC), and an ethoxylated alcohol (EA) cleaner were tested with cotton, microfiber, and meltblown polypropylene wipes. Wipes inoculated with ∼ 7 log 10 CFU of S. aureus or P. aeruginosa were used on 1 ft 2 Formica. Bacterial transfer to surfaces and gloves was quantified between the chemistry and material combinations using single- and multi-layer setups. Results: HP-based wipes demonstrated the highest bactericidal efficacy, transferring little to no viable bacteria. Polypropylene wipes consistently transferred fewer bacteria than cotton or microfiber wipes. Wipes with QAC or EA, particularly those made of cotton, transferred significantly more bacteria to surfaces and gloves. Adding layers of wipe material reduced bacterial transfer, especially for microfiber. Conclusion: Chemistry and wipe material both significantly impact bacterial transfer during cleaning. HP with polypropylene wipes offered the most effective reduction in cross-contamination. Cotton and microfiber wipes paired with QAC or EA exhibited higher transfer risks, likely due to electrostatic interactions contributing to reduced antimicrobial activity. These findings emphasize the need for optimized wipe-chemistry combinations to ensure effective surface decontamination.
Voorn et al. (Thu,) studied this question.