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The Clorox Company announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the registration of DISPATCH Hospital Cleaner Disinfectant Towels with Bleach to kill Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) spores in five minutes, the fastest C. difficile contact time available.

This is the first bleach-based wipe to receive EPA registration for C. difficile, a spore-forming bacterium found in the intestines that can cause a variety of symptoms, from diarrhea to more serious life-threatening intestinal disease. A survey by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) found that the C. difficile incidence estimate of 13 out of every 1,000 inpatients either infected or colonized with C. difficile is 6.5 to 20 times greater than previous incidence estimates(4).

DISPATCH towels with bleach clean and disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces quickly and effectively in just one step. The towels are pre-moistened with a unique 1:10 stable sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution like the concentration that is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidelines for effective disinfecting against the toughest healthcare pathogens, including C. difficile. DISPATCH towels with bleach are EPA-registered to kill 26 additional pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). DISPATCH towels with bleach can be used on multiple surfaces in healthcare settings, including plastic, plastic laminate, stainless steel, sealed fiberglass and glazed porcelain.

“Clorox understands the critical need for tools to help combat healthcare-associated infections likeC. difficile,” said Craig Stevenson, vice president and general manager, Clorox Professional Products Division. “The EPA registration of DISPATCH towels with bleach to kill C. difficile in five minutes showcases our continued commitment to delivering products that meet the needs of healthcare facilities nationwide to help fight this growing problem.”