Determination of the Antibacterial Efficacy of Common Chemical Agents in Cleaning and Disinfection in Hospitals of North Jordan

Problem statement: Hospital cleanleness and hygene are consederd among the most important aspects of clinical success and in preventing nosocomial infections. In this study we will address the problem of effectiveness of commonly used chemical agents in cleaning and disinfection in hospitals of north Jordan. For evaluating the effectiveness of chemical agents. Approach: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the method of serial broth dilutions. The bacteria used were Acinetobactev calcoaceticus, Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia marcescens were isolated from material collected from Princess Badea and Princess Rahma hospitals in north Jordan, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 9372, Bacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 7953, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923,were used as controls. Results: Chlorhexidine showed no inhibitory activity for Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus stearothermophilus. A. calcoaceticus, showed resistance to the majority of the agents tested, followed by E. cloacae and S. marcescens. The MIC intervals, which reduced bacteria populations over 08 log10, were: 65-11000 mg L^-1 of chlorhexidine digluconate, 200-4500 mg L^-1 of chlorine-releasing-agents (CRAs), 4100-82000 mg L^-1 of isopropanol or ethanol, 1350-3500 mg L^-1 of glutaraldehyde, 50-250 mg L^-1 of formaldehyde, 1200-6000 mg L^-1 of iodine in polyvinyl-pyrolidone complexes, 450-2400 mg L^-1 of hydrogen peroxide and 60-160 mg L^-1 of quaternarium ammonium compounds (QACs). Conclusion: Ethanol, Ethanol plus glycerin and Ethanol iodine were found to be the most effective agents against microorganims tested p<0.05.