Virginia Research Day 2022

Medical Student Research Cl inical

10 Changes In Use Of Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QAC) Disinfectants In Private Practices In Pennsylvania And Illinois Due To The COVID-19 Pandemic

Richard Antoun 1 ; Caroline G. Horne 1 ; Prerna M. Yadav 1 ; Emmaline L. Lang 1 ; Michael Reymundi 1 ; Theresa J. McCann 1 ; Terry C. Hrubec 1 Corresponding author: chorne@vt.vcom.edu

VCOM Virginia

proportions will be used to describe the data. Paired t-tests or non-parametric equivalents as appropriate will be used to compare changes in disinfection practices. Analyses will be 2-tailed with statistical significance at p<.05, and 95% confidence intervals will be provided for outcomes. We hypothesize the use of disinfectant practices has increased in medical offices throughout the nation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has resulted in an increased use of QAC containing products. This is an ongoing project that is part of a larger study evaluating selective states found to be representative of the United States as a whole. The current response rate is 11.5% which is slightly lower than expected in part due to the difficulties with contacting busy medical facilities during a pandemic.

and contact dermatitis. Animal studies have revealed problems with reproductive, developmental, and immune function. Population-wide analysis of exposure detected QAC traces in 80% of people. Blood QAC concentrations were correlated with decreased mitochondrial function and an increase in inflammatory markers in a dose-dependent manner. Studies have identified an increase in indoor QAC exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study assesses the changes in disinfectant procedures and products in medical settings to determine if there is an increased use of QAC compounds. The project focuses on disinfection procedures in private practices located in Pennsylvania and Illinois. About 500 medical offices will be surveyed in Pennsylvania and Illinois by telephone. Offices are asked a standardized set of questions regarding the types of disinfectants being used, changes in cleaning products, and frequency of disinfecting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics with means and

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been alterations in the usage of disinfection products and practices in clinical settings. Healthcare facilities have shifted towards more robust disinfection protocols due to the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to reside on surfaces for 9 days. As viral particles can be transmitted by asymptomatic persons, the usage of regular disinfectants is essential. There are over 500 products that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists as effective against SAR-CoV-2. About half of the products include a Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QAC) as the active ingredient. Since their discovery in 1915, QAC compounds have been included as active ingredients in products including deodorizers, surface disinfectants, and detergents. QAC based disinfectants are advantageous to other disinfectants because of their non-corrosive properties, low cost, and perceived safety. However, continuous exposure to QACs has been associated with medical complications such as asthma

This research is IRB exempt and was funded in part by VCOM.

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