Media Centre

Overview: The outbreak in Wuhan China of a newly identified coronavirus (colloquially the Wuhan Coronavirus) has raised questions about how various disinfectants will perform against this new virus when tested in standardized testing or when used in real-world applications. This document discusses our current understanding of these questions.

Disinfectant Testing: In the United States, disinfectants are tested for efficacy against pathogenic organisms using standardized methods approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA). In Europe, EN standardized tests are used for the same purpose. These testing methods are developed to standardize evaluation of the performance of a chemical disinfectant against pathogenic microorganisms.

Multilevel approaches to cleaning and disinfection, using solutions such as AHP, contribute to better health outcomes for hospital patients, aged care residents, staff and visitors.

Gastroenteritis can be costly in terms of reputation, productivity, staff health and patient outcomes. When it comes to infection, prevention is better than cure.

How good are they really?

Disinfectant wipes are the fastest growing packaging format globally for disinfectants. When compared to traditional cleaning methods, wipes decrease the time to clean patient rooms by 23% and they reduce the human capital cost by around $50 per employee per day. Disinfectant wipes also significantly increase cleaning and disinfection compliance (Weimken 2014).

Why do infection rates peak in some hospitals and not others? How can we best manage HAIs?

By: Ivan Obreza

Chlorine bleach has long been the standard chemical for Clostridium difficile  disinfection. Unfortunately, whilst efficacious, bleach is also corrosive. New  technologies are emerging that do not sacrifice safety for efficacy. And they  are redefining the way we view powerful disinfection chemistry. Sporicide  Plus™ belongs to the classification of strong disinfectants called sporicidals.  They are specifically designed to kill bacterial spores such as C. diff without  the risks associated with bleach.

There is no easy way to clean a hospital or aged care facility and keep it clean, regardless of how we define "clean." This article (Australian Hospital and Healthcare Bulletin, Spring 2017) explores the reasons for variability in cleaning practice from one facility to another.

Best practice cleaning and disinfection is an evolving paradigm. The attached link opens an article that was published in The Australian Hospital and Healthcare Bulletin (Winter 2017).

Hospital cleaning and disinfection: What is best practice?

We understand the issues and challenges that hospitals and aged care facilities face during the cold and flu season and the impact it has on patients, residents and staff.  

At Diversey, we have provided proven infection prevention solutions to major hospitals and aged care facilities in Australia and New Zealand for over 30 years.

Killing Environmental C. difficile spores

Clostridium difficile has emerged as a substantial antimicrobial-resistant threat to healthcare, with a mortality rate in Australia of 5%. Environmental disinfection using the right product, process and proof of compliance, is critical. Sporicide Plus™ is a novel disinfectant that finally addresses the age old dichotomy: choosing a powerful disinfectant that kills bacterial spores but has a good safety profile.

Healthcare Cleaning and Disinfection –

What is best practice?

The new strain of the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis norovirus, has been detected in Victoria and health experts warn it could become an epidemic.

The new strained referred to as Melbourne Norovirus, is expected to radiate out of Victoria into New South Wales and Queensland, then peak in all states in mid 2017.