Disinfection effects of slightly acidic hypochlorous electrolyzed water on high-frequency contact surfaces in intensive care units: A prospective study

Appropriate disinfection of high-frequency contact surfaces in intensive care units (ICUs) is vital for controlling and preventing healthcare-associated infections. Two hundred high-frequency contact surfaces in the ICU of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital-Yuecheng Branch were selected and randomized into the trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) or slightly acidic hypochlorous electrolyzed water (SAEW) group (100 surfaces per group) for examination from April 8, 2024, to May 10, 2024. TCCA solutions containing 500 mg/L of chlorine and SAEW were used as disinfectants for wiping and disinfecting the surfaces. The bacterial colony count and disinfection pass rate of the two groups at 5 min, 4 hr, and 8 hr after disinfection were compared. No significant differences were found between the TCCA and SAEW groups in 5 min, 4 hr, or 8 hr bacterial colony count. At 5 min, 4 hr, and 8 hr after disinfection, the surface disinfection pass rates of the TCCA group were 97.00%, 76.00%, and 66.00%, respectively, and those of the SAEW group were 96.00%, 73.00%, and 60.00%, respectively. The pass rates did not significantly differ (5 min, p = 1.000; 4 hr, p = 0.626; 8 hr, p = 0.380). The use of SAEW showed comparable results in ICU high-frequency contact surface disinfection to the use of TCCA containing 500 mg/L of chlorine, indicating it is effective for disinfecting high-frequency surfaces in ICUs.