Abstract: Compositions and methods for the disinfection of surfaces are provided. The compositions include an alcohol and a peracid. The disinfectant composition is characterized by a pH of no more than about 5. Broad spectrum efficacy is achieved, and synergistic activity is exhibited against bacterial and fungal spores, including Clostridium difficile spores. The compositions and methods are also useful against conformationally altered prions, bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the disinfection of surfaces are provided. The compositions include an alcohol and a peracid. The disinfectant composition is characterized by a pH of no more than about 5. Broad spectrum efficacy is achieved, and synergistic activity is exhibited against bacterial and fungal spores, including Clostridium difficile spores. The compositions and methods are also useful against conformationally altered prions, bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the disinfection of surfaces are provided. The compositions include an alcohol and a peracid. The disinfectant composition is characterized by a pH of no more than about 5. Broad spectrum efficacy is achieved, and synergistic activity is exhibited against bacterial and fungal spores, including Clostridium difficile spores. The compositions and methods are also useful against conformationally altered prions, bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the disinfection of surfaces are provided. The compositions include an alcohol and a peracid. The disinfectant composition is characterized by a pH of no more than about 5. Broad spectrum efficacy is achieved, and synergistic activity is exhibited against bacterial and fungal spores, including Clostridium difficile spores. The compositions and methods are also useful against conformationally altered prions, bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly decontaminant solution, which may be disposed of after use without posing significant environmental hazards, is formulated without molybdenum-based corrosion inhibitors and preferably is free of all heavy metals. A zeolite-based buffering system optionally replaces phosphate buffers for maintaining the pH of the decontaminant solution at an appropriate pH for effective antimicrobial decontamination. Molybdenum-free decontaminant solutions containing peracetic acid retain their peracetic acid levels, and thus their antimicrobial effectiveness, for longer periods than comparable solutions formulated with a molybdate corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: A single-use cartridge C contains a dose of a concentrated decontaminant for providing a decontaminant solution upon mixing with water. The cartridge is inserted into the well (16) of a decontamination system (A). Fresh water and then the decontaminant solution are recirculated through the well during a decontamination cycle. The cartridge includes a porous region (42), through which the decontaminant solution flows. Impregnated in the porous region is a chemical indicator (44), such as crystal violet, which gradually changes color on exposure to the decontaminant. The indicator provides a semi-quantitative indication of the integrated level of the decontaminant in the solution over time for determining whether an acceptable level of the decontaminant was present for decontamination. A preferred embodiment of the cartridge C includes nested inner and outer water-penetrable cups (50,150,70,170) for holding first and second reagents. The two cups are sealed together adjacent upper open ends (56,92,156,192).

Abstract: An anticorrosive, penetration enhancing composition for cleaning decontaminating and rinsing includes electrochemically activated (ECA) water as the decontamination agent. The anticorrosive decontamination composition has, as the anticorrosive agent, a compound or mixture of compounds capable of inhibiting corrosion of various metals used in sterilization decontamination and rinsing systems and objects such as medical instruments. Preferred anticorrosive compounds include phosphates, azoles, and sulfates. Other additives, including wetting agents, are added to reduce the surface energy of the ECA water. This reduced surface energy permits the ECA water to penetrate into objects of complex design thus permitting complete decontamination of the treated object.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly decontaminant solution, which may be disposed of after use without posing significant environmental hazards, is formulated without molybdenum-based corrosion inhibitors and preferably is free of all heavy metals. A zeolite-based buffering system optionally replaces phosphate buffers for maintaining the pH of the decontaminant solution at an appropriate pH for effective antimicrobial decontamination. Molybdenum-free decontaminant solutions containing peracetic acid retain their peracetic acid levels, and thus their antimicrobial effectiveness, for longer periods than comparable solutions formulated with a molybdate corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: An anticorrosive, penetration enhancing composition for cleaning decontaminating and rinsing includes electrochemically activated (ECA) water as the decontamination agent. The anticorrosive decontamination composition has, as the anticorrosive agent, a compound or mixture of compounds capable of inhibiting corrosion of various metals used in sterilization decontamination and rinsing systems and objects such as medical instruments. Preferred anticorrosive compounds include phosphates, azoles, and sulfates. Other additives, including wetting agents, are added to reduce the surface energy of the ECA water. This reduced surface energy permits the ECA water to penetrate into objects of complex design thus permitting complete decontamination of the treated object.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly decontaminant solution, which may be disposed of after use without posing significant environmental hazards, is formulated without molybdenum-based corrosion inhibitors and preferably is free of all heavy metals. A zeolite-based buffering system optionally replaces phosphate buffers for maintaining the pH of the decontaminant solution at an appropriate pH for effective antimicrobial decontamination. Molybdenum-free decontaminant solutions containing peracetic acid retain their peracetic acid levels, and thus their antimicrobial effectiveness, for longer periods than comparable solutions formulated with a molybdate corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: A wet chemical indicator for peracetic acid solutions includes an indicator for peracetic acid and an inhibitor. The inhibitor is selected to inhibit a selected peracetic acid concentration in a reproducible sample of a solution containing peracetic acid. The indicator exhibits an observable change when the selected concentration of peracetic acid is exceeded. In this manner, a rapid indication of whether the peracetic acid solution is of a required minimum strength is provided.

Abstract: An outer, first container portion (50) has a peripheral wall (52) which has an opening at a first end (56) and at a second end (60). A porous filter (58) covers the second end. An inner, second container portion (70) has a peripheral wall (72) with a region which is formed from a first material which is impermeable to the powdered reagents but is permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents. The first and second container portions are configured such that the second container portion peripheral wall abuts and is connected to the first end of the outer first container portion. The first and second container portions define a first powdered reagent receiving chamber in the first container portion for receiving a first reagent and a second powdered reagent receiving chamber in the second container portion for receiving a second reagent. The porous filter is impermeable to the first reagent but permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents.

Abstract: A recirculation system for electrochemically activated antimicrobial solutions returns antimicrobial solution which has been depleted of active antimicrobial species to a electrolytic cell for regeneration of the active species. Organic load, which frequently contaminates items to be sterilized or disinfected, such as medical instruments, rapidly depletes the active antimicrobial species in a conventional treatment system, reducing the effectiveness of microbial decontamination by electrochemically activated solutions. By recirculating the antimicrobial through the electrolytic cell, the concentration of active species is maintained at a level at which efficient sterilization is achieved.

Abstract: An outer, first cup portion having a peripheral wall which has an opening at a first end and at a second end. An inner, second cup portion having a region which is formed from a first material which is impermeable to the powdered reagents but is permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents, the first and second cup portions being configured such that the second cup portion peripheral wall abuts and is connected to the first end of the outer first cup portion, the first and second being configured such that a first powdered reagent receiving chamber is defined in the first cup portion for receiving a first reagent and a second powdered reagent receiving chamber is defined in the second cup portion for receiving a second reagent, a closure secured to and closing the second end of the outer first cup portion, the closure being impermeable to the first reagent.

Abstract: A vessel (14) receives biological fluid wastes. After the biological fluids wastes are drained (24) from the vessel, the vessel is sprayed (36) with a cleaning and decontaminating solution. The solution is formed by mixing water with powdered reagents including (a) a highly soluble hypochlorite, preferably lithium hypochlorite, (b) a chelator including citrate and gluconate salts and EDTA, (c) a buffer for buffering the pH to a range of 7.0 to 13.0, (d) a stabilizer for stabilizing the hypochlorite, (e) a corrosion inhibitor, preferably an organic corrosion inhibitor such as a triazole and an inorganic inhibitor such as a molybdate, and (f) a surfactant, preferably present in a concentration of 0.2 to 5%. After the interior of the vessel has been decontaminated and the drain has been closed, the solution continues to be introduced into the vessel, such that a charge of the solution is present in the vessel to decontaminate next received biological waste fluids.