Which solution is recommended to disinfect material contaminated with blood & body fluids?

RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2024

Applied Microbiology & Infection control (E5)

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2024

Explanation

Sodium hypochlorite is a broad-spectrum disinfectant, effective against bacteria, viruses (including HIV and Hepatitis B), fungi, and spores.
It is recommended by health authorities like the CDC for decontaminating blood and body fluid spills due to its potent virucidal activity.
A 1% solution provides a sufficient concentration of available chlorine (approximately 10,000 ppm) to inactivate pathogens in the presence of organic material.
It is fast-acting, inexpensive, and widely available, making it a practical choice for healthcare settings.

Option A: Bleaching powder (chlorinated lime) is an unstable compound that loses its chlorine content on storage, making it unreliable for consistent disinfection of critical spills.
Option B: Alcohol evaporates very quickly, which does not allow for the necessary contact time to kill all pathogens in a blood spill. It is also readily inactivated by organic matter like blood.
Option D: This option is incorrect because two of the listed agents (Bleaching powder and Alcohol 70%) are not the recommended or appropriate choice for disinfecting blood and body fluid spills.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Infection Control and Disinfection helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Correct disinfection of blood spills is a fundamental component of Standard Precautions and is critical for preventing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens like HIV, HBV, and HCV to both healthcare workers and patients.
Nurses must be proficient in the hospital's spill management protocol, including locating spill kits, using appropriate PPE, and applying the correct disinfectant with the proper concentration and contact time.
What if the spill occurs on a surface that is sensitive to corrosion from bleach (e.g., a specific medical device)? The nurse should first consult the device's cleaning guidelines. If bleach is contraindicated, the protocol would involve cleaning the organic material thoroughly first, then using an appropriate intermediate-level disinfectant compatible with the surface.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the recommended disinfectant for a specific, high-risk material (blood and body fluids).
Recall infection control principles. Blood is a biohazard, so a potent, broad-spectrum disinfectant is required.
Evaluate each option based on its known properties and recommended uses in a healthcare setting.
Eliminate Alcohol 70% because it evaporates quickly and is inactivated by organic matter.
Eliminate Bleaching powder because it's unstable and not the first-line choice for surface spills of blood compared to liquid solutions.
This leaves Sodium hypochlorite 1% as the most appropriate and standard agent, confirming it as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) p. 128-130