We must start with the realization that the environmental surfaces in our world (even in a patient’s room) will never be free of disease-causing pathogens, although the manufacturers of UV-C or Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor (HPV) room disinfection systems make claims to the contrary. The fact is those methods of terminally disinfecting an empty discharged patient’s room are only one piece of the total picture. The other 85%-90% of the time, that room is occupied by one or more patients and those disinfection systems that you paid $75,00-$125,000 for cannot be used when humans are present. So how do we solve the problem of improper daily environmental hygiene?

Worried about a certain bug? If in doubt about whether a proposed disinfectant dispatches the germs of concern, check for specific kill claims on the label. Labels will usually tell you whether the product has been registered by the U.S. EPA to eradicate infamous microbes such as MRSA, Norovirus, and so on.

Benchmark microbes tell you a lot about a product’s potency. For example, if a germicide kills Pseudomonas (a type of tough bacteria used to test disinfectants), you can assume it will kill all the weaker microbes, too. A manufacturer therefore does not need to list all the lesser or more delicate organisms on the label.

Check labels for specific germ-killing claims to find out which of the following basic categories of disinfectant you are buying:

 A limited disinfectant is effective for use against a specific major group of microorganisms. Laboratory tests have demonstrated its efficacy against either Salmonella enterica or Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
 A general disinfectant is effective for use against both Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus. A general disinfectant is also referred to as a broad-spectrum disinfectant.
 A healthcare disinfectant is not necessarily just for use in hospitals, clinics, dental offices, or any other medical-related facilities. Efficacy is demonstrated against Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria (which can cause bacterial pneumonia).

Previously we learned about “Super Bugs” (antibiotic-resistant bacteria). People with these super bugs may be shopping where you buy groceries. They might use the public restroom in the building where you work. Not everyone with a super bug is confined to a hospital.

You might want to use a healthcare disinfectant just because it is effective against some of the more difficult to kill microorganisms which are near the top of the pathogenic organism pyramid. That means the healthcare disinfectants are effective at reducing or eliminating everything but spore-forming bacteria such as C-difficile or prions.

What do these terms and disinfectant levels have to do with shopping for a disinfectant?

While it would be nice to get a “microbiologist’s prescription” for a limited, general, or healthcare disinfectant, the reality is that selection is often a judgment call.