CloroxPro Blog – Professional Cleaning and Disinfection Insights

In Canada, the impending respiratory illness season is a topic of yearly speculation, with good reason: what types and strains are likely to be an issue, which ones are new or have evolved since last season, and – the bottom line – what is the potential impact on health?

Let’s focus on some special members of our population who are at particularly high risk of respiratory illness and potentially serious complications – seniors and the elderly living in retirement residences and care homes. For these highly susceptible individuals, prevention is of the utmost importance.

Risk factors specific to long-term care settings and residents

• Age itself is a risk factor for respiratory illness, but those with underlying medical conditions like chronic lung disease, diabetes or cancer, immune system-related conditions or organ transplant, or who are taking antibiotics, steroids or certain cancer-fighting medications are at increased risk.
• Many residents have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to infection and severe complications. 
• A closed environment and close/shared living quarters makes it easier for respiratory viruses to travel with ease.

How do respiratory viruses travel?

Respiratory viruses spread by three different routes: contact (direct or indirect), and airborne transmission by either droplet or aerosol. What’s the difference?

• Contact transmission refers to virus transfer from an infected person to a susceptible individual. This could be directly, from contaminated hands or indirectly, transferred between people through an intermediate object – referred to as a “fomite” – objects or materials that are capable of carrying infection, such as surfaces, utensils, or furniture.
• Transmission of a virus through the air can occur via droplets or aerosols. Infected individuals spread pathogens through respiratory particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing, shout or simply breathe. The difference between droplets and aerosols is based on size:
  • Droplets are larger; they don’t remain suspended in the air for long, and travel less than about a metre before settling on the mucosa of close contacts or on a nearby surface.
  • Aerosols are smaller; they’re slower to settle, can remain suspended in the air longer and can travel further.

Prevention is always the best medicine

Belonging to diverse families, respiratory viruses differ in how they spread, and how easily they spread. While it’s not always possible to understand clinically which virus is behind a respiratory virus infection or an outbreak, it’s important to know the most likely culprits and transmission routes.

Know the pathogens to prepare for prevention

• Rhinovirus (common cold): Approximately 50% of all colds are caused by one of >100 serotypes of rhinoviruses. Rhinoviruses are most efficiently spread by direct contact, but may also occur via large-particle droplets.
• Adenovirus: Adenoviruses are commonly acquired by direct contact with respiratory secretions from an infected person or by contact with a contaminated object. Infection may also be airborne (droplet, aerosol).
• Influenza viruses: Influenza viruses are spread primarily by airborne droplets, but also by person-to-person contact or contact with contaminated items.
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): RSV can spread by contact (direct or indirect) or airborne (droplet, aerosol).
• Coronaviruses and acute respiratory syndromes: In recent years, outbreaks with SARS, MERS and COVID-19 have caused widespread illness and deaths. These viruses spread easily by direct or indirect contact or by airborne transmission.

The critical role of environmental cleaning and disinfection in reducing the risk of infection

Use of respiratory pathogen-specific protocols is key to risk reduction. Knowing that these pathogens can persist for hours on solid surfaces helps to inform targeted cleaning and disinfection practices and products. It goes without saying that matching product to pathogen is critical!

Surface cleaning of high-touch surfaces throughout common areas and patient rooms with appropriate disinfectants disrupts transmission via the fomite route. It can also block the droplet or aerosol route by reducing fomites available for resuspension due to various activities, such as walking or door opening.

Provincial guidelines state that disinfectants chosen for use in long-term care facilities:

• Must be active against the microorganisms encountered; Health Canada-approved products with DIN # that are not only effective but also safe for each environment, types of surfaces, and for residents, staff and visitors
• Should require little or no mixing or diluting
• Should be active at room temperature with a short contact time
• Should have low irritancy and allergenic characteristics
• Should be safe for the environment.

Read on to learn how CloroxPro can be your best partner in your Long-term Care Cleandom!

Protect their home, protect your residents! For efficient and effective cleaning and disinfection, choose CloroxPro™

The following CloroxPro™ cleaner disinfectants have demonstrated effectiveness against respiratory viruses on hard, nonporous surfaces when used according to directions. 

CloroxPro™ Clorox™ Disinfecting Wipes (DIN: 02492636)

Attack multiple surfaces with this bleach-free disinfecting product in a convenient ready-to-use wipe. Great for high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces.

• Kills 57 pathogens in 15 seconds to 4 minutes. 
• Cleans and kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria on hard, nonporous surfaces.
• Sanitizes in 10 seconds. 
• Kills Staph, Strep, E. coli, salmonella, listeria, measles, mumps and SARS-CoV-2 on hard nonporous surfaces.
• Safe for use on hard, nonporous surfaces such as finished wood, sealed granite, stainless steel, mirrors and glass.

CloroxPro™ Clorox™ EcoClean™ Disinfecting Wipes (DIN: 02545047)

A citric acid-based disinfectant that is made from a naturally derived plant-based active ingredient, and formulated without bleach, alcohol or ammonia.

• Kills 20 pathogens in 5 minutes.  
• Disinfects in 5 minutes.
• Kills 99.9% of flu viruses (Influenza A virus, RSV) and the COVID-19 virus in 30 seconds.
• Sanitizes hard, nonporous surfaces in 60 seconds.
• Cleans and disinfects without harming most surfaces, with no lingering chemical smell.

Learn more about CloroxPro™ products that can help protect your Long-term Care Cleandom.

Interested in speaking to a representative about customized solutions and a free demo and training? Contact us today.