Use of disinfectant wipes in healthcare: Why they are not just wipes

Date: 14 Oct 2026 | Time: 1005 - 1025 | Venue: Level 1, L1-S1, Academia (SGH Campus)

Track: Session 3.2 Environment Hygiene

Speaker:

Overview:

Disinfectant wipes are widely used in healthcare and are often perceived as simple cleaning tools. However, their effectiveness depends on correct application, including appropriate product selection, adequate contact time, and proper wiping technique. In practice, wipes are frequently used across multiple surfaces, with limited attention to these critical factors, potentially leading to suboptimal disinfection and unintended cross-contamination. This presentation challenges the assumption that wiping equates to effective disinfection. It explores the gap between recommended practice and real-world behaviour, highlighting how workflow pressures and system design influence misuse. Evidence from studies and guidelines will be used to reframe disinfectant wipes as a critical infection prevention intervention rather than a routine task, practical, system-level strategies will be shared to improve consistency, reliability and patient safety.