Manual Disinfection: Unsafe, Inconsistent, and Outdated
Manual disinfection is still widely used in hospitals around the world, often because it feels familiar and it seems affordable. But when you take a closer look, it becomes clear that the costs are hidden in inconsistent outcomes, infection risks, and it turns out to be very expensive in the long run if you calculate all the cycles.
The Core Issue: Humans Aren’t Machines
Even the most diligent nurse or technician can miss spots, rush steps, or shorten contact time. Studies have shown that manual wiping is inherently variable. One study found that even when protocols are strictly followed, pathogens like HPV can survive inadequate wiping procedures.
No Traceability, No Control
Manual disinfection offers no traceability. Hospitals are expected to meet rigorous standards for high-level disinfection, yet with wipes and foam there is no log of who disinfected what, when, or how thoroughly. In an age where audit trails are critical, manual disinfection is stuck in the past.
Risk to Sensitive Devices
Manual methods also leave devices at risk. Equipment like ENT scopes and TEE probes can be damaged by repeated handling, especially when wipes are applied with inconsistent pressure or speed. This leads to increased repair costs and shortened instrument lifespan.
Manual disinfection is not just inconvenient, it is unreliable, undocumented, and unsafe. Hospitals deserve a better standard.
Chemical Machines: Slow, Expensive, and Corrosive
Automated chemical-based systems were once seen as the gold standard. But today, they are increasingly outdated. These systems introduce new challenges that silently impact clinical workflow and put hospital budgets under pressure.
Slow and Inefficient
A typical cycle in a chemical-based machine takes anywhere from 7 minutes for an ultrasound probe to 40 minutes for an ENT scope. In busy departments, that delay results in bottlenecks, missed cases, and rescheduling patients. Instruments wait in queues. Staff are left idle. Patient flow suffers.
High Costs That Keep Rising
The machines are costly, but the true burden lies in recurring consumables: chemical cartridges, filters, water softeners, and plumbing. Over time, the total cost of ownership rises dramatically, often outpacing any savings from bulk chemical purchases.
Harsh on Devices
Chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide could be corrosive to device materials. Repeated exposure causes degradation of seals, adhesives, and surfaces, compromising device performance and longevity. Clinical studies and post-market surveillance have documented damage ranging from micro-cracking to full delamination.
The Result: A System That Fails Hospitals
Hospitals find themselves caught between regulatory demands and real-world limitations. The promise of “automated safety” fades when disinfection is slow, expensive, and damaging to patient flow.
Stay tuned for our next blogs to Discover how UV-C disinfection can solve the current issues of current disinfection methods.
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