comparison of efficiency of epimax s and epimax sc disinfectantson bacteria causing infections in intensive careunits

comparison of efficiency of ep i max s and epimax sc disinfectants on bacteria causing infections in intensive care units     valizade ma [1] , khorsandi h [2] , amini tapok f [3] , hosseini jazani n [4] , rahimi rad mh [5] , aqdashi mm [6] , sardari s [7]     received: 23 aug, 2012 accepted: 20 nov, 2012   abstract   background & aims : nosocomial infections cause death, increase costs and the patient’s length of stay in hospital. proper use of disinfectants and anti-septics have an important role in reducing infections. the aim of this study was the evaluation of efficacy of epimax s and epimax sc disinfectants in intensive care units (icu) of urmia imam khomeini hospital.   materials & methods : in thiscross-sectionalstudy, 672 samples were collected from different surfaces and medical equipments of intensive care units before and after disinfections. cultured samples were identified using differentiation and biochemical standard methods. the results were analyzed using spss and excel softwares.   result : culture results of samples prior to disinfection of surfaces and equipment, showed that contamination of the samples to different bacterial strains in intensive care units including 40% staphylococcus saprophyticus, 29.2% staphylococcus aureus, 18.17% klebsiella, 6.17% e. coli, 4.34%, staphylococcus epidermidis, and 2.17% proteus. laboratory studies showed that all the strains present in the samples are destroyed after disinfection by epimax s with a concentration of 3% and contact time of 30 minutes, while klebsiella was able to grow after disinfection with a concentration of 2% epimax sc (recommended maximum concentration by manufacturer) and contact time of 30 minutes.  conclusion: there are significant difference between epimax s and epimax sc in control of hospital infection. according to the results, epimax s of 3% with contact time of 30 minutes is recommended for prevention of nosocomial infections, especially in the intensive care unit, compared to epimax sc . it is recommended that proper selection of disinfectants and disinfection procedures, elimination of environmental reservoirs of infection and the patients talent and experience at risk for nosocomial infections should be evaluated for the prevention and control of hospital infections. environmental health principles continuing education of hospital staff should be one of the operational programs of hospital infection control committee. key words: nosocomial infections, disinfection, epimax s, epimax sc, staphylococcus saprophyticus, staphylococcus aureus  address: urmia, boulevard ershad, center imam khomeini urmia, department of environmental health   tel : (+98)4413457286, fax : (+98)4413484023   email : [email protected]   [1] anesthesiology, intensive care fellowship, assistant professor, urmia university of medical sciences  [2] department of environmental health, assistant professor faculty of health, urmia medical sciences university  [3] msph, on environmental health, imam khomeini hospital urmia medical sciences university (corresponding author)*   [4] microbiology phd, associate professor, faculty of medicine, urmia university of medical sciences  [5] specialist in internal medicine, pulmonary disease specialist, urmia university of medical sciences  [6] anesthesiology, pain fellowship, assistant professor urmia university of medical sciences  [7] general practitioner, urmia university of medical sciences