Hospitals advised against green cleaning

OTTAWA, ON, Canada — The Quebec Health Ministry recently issued a warning to hospitals urging them to ensure that products marketed as environmentally friendly will effectively clean surfaces and keep patients safe and protected, according to the National Post.

Experts warn that many manufacturers are marketing products that are simply diluted versions of traditional chemicals that are often ineffective in combating infections that sicken thousands of patients a year.

There is a growing fear that ineffective green products are making hospitals more susceptible to pathogens like Clostridium difficile (C. diff) and norovirus, the story stated.

Syed Sattar, a microbiologist at the University of Ottawa who specializes in disinfectants, said: "What that does is gives the infection-control professional, the people on the front-line in hospitals, a certain false sense of security. [Custodians and administrators] are all busy individuals and don't have either the time or deeper understanding to be able to look at the product label or brochure to decipher what exactly it is saying or not saying."

According to the story, the drive to make cleaners more environmentally friendly is an important one; however, increased care and vigilance is needed to ensure the right green products are used.

Health Canada, in an effort to end the confusion over the efficacy of green cleaners and to eliminate greenwashing, is planning to mandate more stringent testing, the story noted.

Hospitals are urged to do their research and test new products on the small-scale before they are widely utilized throughout the entire facility, the story added.