Sani-Bracket^® Canister Holder Pole Accessory Kit

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can PDI Germicidal Wipes be used on toys?

  Yes. PDI’s EPA-registered surface disinfectant products—including Super Sani-Cloth^®, Sani-Cloth AF3, Sani-Cloth Bleach, Sani-Cloth Plus, Sani-Cloth Prime, Sani-HP1™, and Sani-HyPerCide^® brands—are approved and labeled for use on hard, non-porous toys. They clean and disinfect in a one-step process unless the toy is visibly soiled. After disinfection, toys should always be rinsed thoroughly with potable water (tap water) and allowed to air dry.

  This rinse step is not unique to PDI—it is required for all EPA-registered surface disinfectants when used on toys or items that may be mouthed, since disinfectants are not registered as food-contact surface sanitizers. Without the rinse, chemical residues could remain on items that children may put in their mouths.

  According to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), recommended best practice is: “Toys should be cleaned/disinfected between patients, especially those that are visibly soiled, mouthed, or used by patients in isolation. Toys should be washed thoroughly; disinfected with a non-toxic, low-level disinfectant; and air dried completely.”

  Infection prevention experts also recommend only using washable toys for sharing. Stuffed animals and toys that cannot be cleaned and disinfected should not be shared.

  SOURCE: APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Chapter 39, p. 14-15, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, 2011. www.apic.org

• Does National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 30 apply to PDI's surface disinfection and cleaning products?

  No. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 30 applies to the storage, handling, and use of flammable and combustible liquids. PDI products such as Sani-HP1™, Sani-HyPerCide^® Wipes, Sani-Cloth^® Prime, Super Sani-Cloth, Sani-Cloth Plus, Sani-Cloth Bleach, and Easy Screen^® Cleaning Wipes are exempt from NFPA 30 requirements.

  Although the liquid portion of some of these products may be classified as flammable on the SDS, the wipes themselves are not considered “liquids.” EPA classifies wipes as mixture products containing both solids and liquids, and NFPA has confirmed that wipes are not treated as liquids for the purposes of NFPA 30.

  Additionally, NFPA 30 Section 9.1.4(4) specifically excludes “medicines, foodstuffs, cosmetics, and other consumer products that contain more than 50% by volume of water-miscible liquids, with the remainder of the solution not being flammable, where packaged in individual containers not exceeding 5 L (1.3 gallons).”

  For these reasons, NFPA 30 does not apply to PDI disinfectant wipes. However, always verify storage requirements with your insurance carrier, as their standards may be more stringent than NFPA guidelines.

• What are the ESKAPE pathogens, and which PDI products are effective against them?

  The acronym ESKAPE refers to six clinically significant pathogens known for multidrug resistance and virulence: Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species.

  These organisms are considered some of the most dangerous in healthcare because they are able to “escape” the effects of commonly used antibiotics. Collectively, the ESKAPE pathogens are the leading cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the healthcare environment.*

  PDI’s Sani-HP1™, Sani-HyPerCide^®, Sani-Cloth Prime, Super Sani-Cloth, Sani-Cloth AF3 and Sani-Cloth Bleach Germicidal Disposable Wipes all carry claims against all six ESKAPE pathogens.

  Sani-Cloth^® Plus covers five of the six, but does not have a claim against Acinetobacter baumannii.

   

  *Mulani et al. Emerging Strategies to Combat ESKAPE Pathogens in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance: A Review. Front Microbiol. 2019 Apr 1;10:539. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00539. PMID: 30988669; PMCID: PMC6452778.

• Do you have any products effective against SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19)?

  Yes. The CDC directs users to EPA List N, which identifies EPA-registered disinfectants that meet the criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2. According to the EPA, products on List N are expected to kill all strains and variants of the virus when used according to label directions.

  All PDI surface disinfectant wipes are included on List N and are effective against SARS-CoV-2.

  This includes:

  • Sani-HP1™ Germicidal Disposable Wipes
  • Sani-HyPerCide^® Germicidal Disposable Wipes
  • Sani-Cloth Prime Germicidal Disposable Wipes
  • Super Sani-Cloth Germicidal Disposable Wipes
  • Sani-Cloth Bleach Germicidal Disposable Wipes
  • Sani-Cloth AF3 Germicidal Disposable Wipes
  • Sani-Cloth Plus Germicidal Disposable Wipes

  For the most current information, you can verify PDI products directly on the EPA List N using the EPA registration numbers found on each product label. [https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus-and-disinfectants/list-n-advanced-search-page-disinfectants-coronavirus-covid-19]

• What is contact time and what happens if the surface dries before the stated contact time on a Sani-Cloth® product label?

  The contact time listed on the product label is the total amount of time that it takes to inactivate ALL of the microorganisms listed on the product label. This time is typically referred to in minutes, and should be communicated to staff members that are utilizing the disinfectant.

  Per EPA guidance, treated surfaces must remain visibly wet for the full stated contact time in order to achieve the efficacy claims on the label. If a surface dries too quickly, additional wipes may be needed to keep the surface wet. The overall contact time itself does not change.

  Surfaces may sometimes dry before the stated contact time due to factors such as airflow and ventilation, temperature, humidity, or the material/porosity of the surface. This is not uncommon in healthcare environments, which often have high air exchanges and low relative humidity.

  While the EPA requires that treated environmental surfaces remain wet for the full contact time, some leading researchers in infection prevention have offered an alternate view. In a commentary published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (March 2018, vol. 39, no. 3, pp 229–231), Dr. W.A. Rutala and Dr. D.J. Weber suggested that contact time and treatment time are mutually exclusive, and that treatment time — regardless of visible wetness — may be sufficient for wipes (except bleach products). PDI continues to monitor this research closely and will provide customers with the latest information as regulations permit.