Disinfectants Commonly Used in Hospitals, Labs Not Strong Enough To Kill TB Bacteria, Study Says

Bleaching products commonly used to disinfect tuberculosis labs and hospital surfaces in Kenya are not strong enough to kill the mycobacterium that causes TB, according to a study, the Daily Nation reports. The study, by Willie Githui of the Kenya Medical Research Institute, currently is awaiting patenting from the Kenya Intellectual Property Institute. According to Githui, the 3.5% chlorine concentration usually found in bleaches on the market is meant for domestic use but it cannot kill the TB-causing bacteria. However, medical workers usually opt to use these products because they are cheaper than stronger alternatives, Peter Karanja, a lab consultant, said. Also, most labs do not leave the disinfectant on surfaces for long enough to kill bacteria, Githui said. Mycobacterium is believed to have several layers of fat that require it to be exposed to high concentrations of chlorine for a long time to effectively kill it, according to the Daily Nation. The misuse of disinfectants in hospitals and labs can put health care providers and the public at risk of contracting TB, Githui said (Okwemba, Daily Nation, 2/2).