Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) are the most common cause of acquired diseases in hospitalized patients. Effective surface disinfection, focused on the inactivation of the spores of this pathogen, is a decisive factor in reducing the number of nosocomial cases of CDI infections. An efficient disinfection procedure is the result of both the properties of the biocidal agent used and the technology of its implementation as well as a reliable, experimental methodology for assessing the activity of the biocidal active substance based on laboratory models that adequately represent real clinical conditions. This study reviews the state of knowledge regarding the properties and biochemical basis of the action mechanisms of sporicidal substances, with emphasis on chlorine dioxide (ClO₂). Among the analyzed biocides, in addition to ClO₂, active chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and glutaraldehyde were characterized. Due to the relatively high sporicidal effectiveness and effective control of bacterial biofilm, as well as safety in a health and environmental context, the use of ClO₂ is an attractive alternative in the control of nosocomial infections of CD etiology. In terms of the methods of assessing the biocidal effectiveness, suspension and carrier standards are discussed.

Article Detergency and Dynamic Surface Tension Reduction of Oxyethylated Fatty Acid Methyl Esters was published on March 1, 2002 in the journal Tenside Surfactants Detergents (volume 39, issue 2).

Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major concern in hospital-acquired infections. C. difficile spores can survive on surfaces for months and require sporicidal disinfection for elimination. The use of disinfectants should be based on laboratory-confirmed sporicidal activity, tested according to current standards in suspension and carrier tests. Further evaluation of disinfectant efficacy should occur in clinical settings by analyzing reductions in CDI incidence. This study aims to conduct a retrospective analysis of the impact of a new disinfection protocol and concurrent changes in antibiotic consumption on the incidence of healthcare-acquired CDI (HA-CDI). Methods: This retrospective, single-center study assessed the impact of a chlorine dioxide-based disinfection protocol on HA-CDI across three periods: pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention. An interrupted time series analysis (ITS) with a Poisson distribution was used to evaluate the incidence of HA-CDI, while antibiotic consumption data were analyzed to identify any correlation with CDI infection rates. Results: Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) before the intervention is 1.00, serving as the reference value. During the intervention period, the IRR is 0.79 (95% CI: 0.42–1.36; p = 0.43), indicating a decrease in the incidence of infections compared to the pre-intervention period, although this result is not statistically significant. After the intervention, the IRR is 0.53 (95% CI: 0.26–0.97; p = 0.057), suggesting a further reduction in the incidence of CDI; this result is on the borderline of statistical significance (p = 0.057), indicating a potential effect of the intervention, albeit without full statistical certainty. Conclusions: The absence of a CDI surge despite increased antibiotic consumption highlights the synergistic relationship between antibiotic stewardship and rigorous infection control practices. The combination of the improved disinfection protocol and comprehensive staff training proved remarkably effective in mitigating CDI risk. Cleaning and disinfection in healthcare facilities is crucial for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections.

Two series of block copolymers of methyloxirane and oxirane, derivatives of 2-ethylhexanol, were obtained with the use of KOH as a conventional homogeneous alkaline catalyst and a coordinative dimetalcyanide catalyst (DMC), respectively. The DMC type catalyst showed much higher kinetic activities and its reaction exhibited a narrower distribution of homologues, as compared with those obtained in the presence of KOH. The thermogravimetric technique was proposed for the characterization of the fractional content of products. The pluming phenomenon and VOCs content were discussed as a practical aspect of the differences in fractional compositions of the products examined.

2-ethylhexanol, an oxo alcohol competitively priced on the global market, has not been explored intensively as a raw material for surfactants, due to its weak hydrophobic character. However, its sequenced propoxylation and ethoxylation yield an innovative amphiphilic structure, which exhibits unique interfacial activity. The paper presents the differences in the fractional composition of innovative surfactants derived from 2-EH alcohol prepared using alkali and dimetalcyanide catalysts, as well as examples of excellent adsorption and interfacial properties of the latter. The adsorption behavior of the synthesized compounds was explored using equilibrium surface tension (the du Noüy ring method), dynamic surface tension (the maximum gas bubble pressure method) and static/dynamic contact angle (the sessile drop method). The results from the adsorption tests conducted at the air/aqueous surfactant solution interface underwent comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analyses. Moreover, based on the experimentally obtained dynamic surface tension isotherms and the developed algorithm, the diffusion coefficients for these preparations were estimated, and it was shown that the diffusivity of these surfactants is higher compared to the commercial formulations. The study’s outcomes in the testing of wettability indicate that new synthesized nonionic and anionic surfactants constitute an interesting group of amphiphiles with a wide application potential as effective wetting agents, especially in relation to the polymer surface. It should therefore be emphasized that the innovative surfactants described in this article, derived from 2-EH alcohol and prepared using dimetalcyanide catalysts, can successfully compete with conventional preparations such as ABS (Dodecylbenzenesulfonic Acid) or AES (Alcohol Ethoxysulphate) acid salts.