Infection Control in Healthcare: The Stakes Are High
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain one of the most significant patient safety challenges facing the NHS and independent care providers. According to NHS England data, approximately 300,000 patients a year in England acquire an HAI during their care, contributing to extended hospital stays, increased antimicrobial resistance pressure, and preventable mortality.
Environmental decontamination — the systematic disinfection of surfaces, equipment, and shared spaces — is a critical component of HAI prevention. Yet many of the disinfectants currently in widespread use carry their own risks: bleach-based products corrode surfaces and medical equipment, cause respiratory irritation in patients and staff, and require careful dilution and handling. Alcohol-based products are ineffective against non-enveloped viruses and C. difficile spores. Chlorine dioxide, while effective, requires specialist handling and ventilation.
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is increasingly recognised as a clinically relevant alternative that addresses these limitations without compromising on efficacy.
HOCl: Mechanism of Action and Antimicrobial Spectrum
HOCl exerts its biocidal effect through oxidative disruption of microbial cell membranes, enzyme systems, and nucleic acids. Unlike hypochlorite (bleach), which carries a negative charge and is repelled by the negatively charged surface of bacterial cells, HOCl is electrically neutral — allowing it to penetrate cell walls more efficiently and achieve faster kill times at lower concentrations.
The antimicrobial spectrum of HOCl at 50–200 ppm free available chlorine includes:
- Gram-positive bacteria: MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis (including VRE)
- Gram-negative bacteria: E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Spore-forming organisms: Clostridioides difficile spores
- Viruses: Norovirus, influenza A & B, SARS-CoV-2, adenovirus
- Fungi: Candida auris, Aspergillus spp.
This breadth of coverage makes HOCl particularly valuable in healthcare settings where multiple pathogen types must be addressed within a single cleaning protocol.
Safety and Tolerability in Clinical Environments
A key advantage of HOCl in healthcare settings is its safety profile. At use concentrations, HOCl is non-toxic, non-irritating to skin, eyes, and respiratory mucosa, and produces no harmful disinfection by-products. This is clinically significant in environments where immunocompromised patients, elderly residents, and staff with respiratory conditions may be present.
HOCl is non-corrosive to medical-grade materials including stainless steel, plastics, and silicone, making it safe for use on medical devices, monitoring equipment, bed frames, and IV stands — surfaces that are frequently damaged by bleach-based products over time.
From a COSHH compliance perspective, HOCl-based products typically carry a significantly reduced hazard classification, simplifying risk assessments and reducing the PPE requirements for cleaning staff.
Applications Across Healthcare Settings
HOCl is suitable for a wide range of decontamination tasks across acute, community, and residential care settings:
- Ward and bay disinfection — bed frames, mattress covers, overbed tables, call systems
- Isolation room terminal cleans — full surface decontamination following C. difficile or MRSA cases
- Care home communal areas — dining rooms, lounges, bathrooms, and mobility aids
- Outpatient and GP settings — examination couches, waiting area furniture, reception surfaces
- Fogging and electrostatic application — whole-room decontamination for outbreak response
Supporting IPC Frameworks
HOCl-based disinfection can be integrated into existing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) frameworks, including those aligned with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance and the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021. Full technical documentation — including efficacy data, COSHH assessments, and application protocols — is available to support procurement teams and IPC leads in evaluating HOCl as part of their cleaning and disinfection schedules.
B2B Supply and Technical Support
Optizan supplies HOCl-based surface cleaners to healthcare and care home operators, with options for bulk supply, scheduled delivery, and technical support from our team. We work with procurement leads, IPC nurses, and facilities managers to ensure our products are deployed correctly and documented appropriately for audit and inspection purposes.
Contact our B2B team to request a product information pack, efficacy data sheet, or to discuss supply arrangements for your organisation.
