The Turnaround Time Challenge:⏱️Why Disinfectant Contact Time is King in Hospital Zones

In a fast-paced clinical environment, every second counts. As soon as a patient is moved out of an Operating Room (OR), Emergency Room (ER) bay, or clinic room, the clock starts ticking on the environmental services (EVS) team to prepare the space for the next person.

This pressure to achieve rapid turnaround often leads to a single, critical failure in the cleaning process: failing to meet the disinfectant’s required contact time.

The Critical Difference: Cleaning vs. Disinfecting

While these terms are often used interchangeably, they represent two distinct steps in infection control:

1. Cleaning: The physical removal of visible soil, dust, and organic matter from a surface. This is a crucial first step because heavy soil can protect pathogens from disinfectants.

2. Disinfecting: The use of a chemical agent to kill microorganisms remaining on a surface after cleaning. This is where the concept of contact time becomes paramount.

Dwell Time is Prime Time: The Contact Time Crisis

Every EPA-registered disinfectant has a mandatory Contact Time (or Dwell Time) listed on its label. This is the minimum amount of time the surface must remain visibly wet with the product to guarantee the killing of specific pathogens, like C. difficile spores, MRSA, or Norovirus.

The Crisis: In a high-traffic hospital environment, it is incredibly common for EVS staff to spray a surface and then immediately wipe it dry. When this happens, the disinfectant has not had enough time to chemically break down and kill the microorganisms. The disinfection step has been rendered ineffective.

Scenario	Outcome
Correct Use: Surface remains wet for the full prescribed contact time (e.g., 3 minutes).	Pathogens killed. The surface is officially disinfected.
Common Error: Surface is wiped dry after 30 seconds.	Pathogens survive. The surface is clean, but not disinfected, leaving the next patient at risk of a Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI).

3 Areas Where Contact Time Is Most Challenging

The rush to clean puts these areas at the highest risk of contact time failure:

1. The ER Bay

With patients frequently moved in and out, ER bays demand a fast flip. Staff must be trained to ensure high-touch items like the bed rails, call buttons, and mobile cardiac monitor screens stay wet for the full duration before being wiped down.

2. Operating Room (OR) Turnaround

Terminal cleaning in the OR is rigorous, but quick changes between surgical cases can pressure EVS staff to cut corners on contact time for surfaces like operating tables and equipment carts.

3. Outpatient Procedure Suites

These areas often have tight schedules. Patient chairs, examination tables, and door handles are often rushed, risking the transfer of pathogens to the next visitor.

The HES Advantage: Practical Efficacy

When selecting a disinfectant for a high-turnover facility, it is essential to prioritize Practical Efficacy—the balance between kill power and a manageable contact time.

HES offers disinfectant products designed to address this challenge:

• Optimized Formulation: We provide formulations that achieve broad-spectrum disinfection (including against key HAIs) with some of the shortest practical contact times available, ensuring compliance and effectiveness even during peak periods.

• Training Partnership: We emphasize the importance of training EVS teams to understand and follow the Dwell Time rule precisely, turning a quick spray-and-wipe into a genuine decontamination process.

A disinfectant is only as good as the time you give it to work. Prioritize products that deliver the necessary efficacy within a contact time that your staff can realistically maintain, and enforce the Dwell Time Rule as a non-negotiable step in your infection control protocol.