Practical limitations of disinfection of body fluid spills with 10,000 ppm sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)

The purpose of this study was to monitor disinfection with 10,000 ppm sodium hypochlorite for decontamination of common hospital spills. Simulated spills deliberately contaminated with 10(8) bacterial challenges were used for the study. Results showed greater than 5 log reduction in the challenge bacteria for all spills (serum, pus, sputum, csf, ascitic fluid, urine, and stool) except blood. Disinfection was satisfactory for blood contaminated with gram-negative bacteria, but not for staphylococci. As a practical procedure, surfaces contaminated from gross spillage of human body fluids should first be contained with absorbent materials, then disinfected with hypochlorite.