Chemical Disinfection Classification: DOWNLOAD Chemical Disinfection Chart

Terminology and Definitions

• Sanitizing only reduces the number of microorganisms found on surfaces.
• Disinfection inactivates or kills microorganisms found on surfaces. There are three levels of disinfection. low (LLD), intermediate (ILD), and high-level disinfection (HLD).
• Sterilization is the process of making an object free from bacteria or other living microorganisms: this occurs when HLD disinfectants are used for six to ten hours.

Disinfectants are classified into three activity levels: high level disinfectant; intermediate level disinfectant and low level disinfectant according to Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 5th Edition: https://wwwp.oakland.edu/Assets/upload/docs/LabSafety/disinfectantsFinaLAug2009.pdf

http://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/deviceregulationandguidance/reprocessingofreusablemedicaldevices/ucm437347.htm

High Level Disinfection (HLD)

HLD solutions destroy microorganisms and inactivate viruses. These solutions disinfect within ten to thirty minutes depending on the product. These solutions are made for semi-critical or critical reusable medical devices, not for environmental surfaces like floors, counter tops, and benches.

HLD examples include: Sporox II a 7.5% solution of hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde.

https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/ReprocessingofReusableMedicalDevices/ucm437347.htm

Intermediate Level Disinfection (ILD)

These solutions kill certain microorganisms, including fungi and mycobacterium tuberculosis. They also inactivate most viruses. They may be used for non-critical medical devices: these devices are used in patient care on intact skin only (no mucus membranes): such as blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, probes, etc. They are used for environmental disinfection of floors, benches or countertops.

ILD examples include: 70% ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, bleach (Clorox™), Providon® and Benefect™, a non-toxic thyme based ILD.

Low Level Disinfection (LLD)

LLD solutions kill most bacteria except tuberculosis and some fungi. LLDs inactivate some viruses. They are often used as sanitizers for environmental surfaces. Lysol™ and Pine-Sol™ are two examples.

Remember: These disinfection levels will be referred to as: HLD, ILD, LLD

Let’s Review

1. What are the commonly used methods for cleaning and disinfecting materials?

2. Identify their level of disinfection.

3. Remember that the CDC, FDA and CCAOM recommends that all cupping therapy and gua sha tools be cleaned and disinfected with HLD solutions.

4. These organizations consider them semi-critical reusable medical devices that have a high probability of coming in contact with microscopic blood and viruses such as Hepatitis B and C.

5. Did you remember that seventy-five percent of people with Hepatitis C are Baby Boomers, people born between 1945 and 1965? Many people who are Hepatitis C positive are not even aware that they are carrying this virus. This means that some of your patients, clients, family, or friends are potentially Hepatitis C positive. Hepatitis C is a blood borne pathogen. Protect your patients, clients, family, and friends by following recommended best practices by the CDC, FDA and CCAOM. https://www.cdc.gov/knowmorehepatitis/media/pdfs/f...