Question:easy
Following admission of a RTA case, there is a spillage of blood on the hospital floor. Which disinfectant will you use to clean the floor?
Following admission of a RTA case, there is a spillage of blood on the hospital floor. Which disinfectant will you use to clean the floor?
Show Hint
Blood spills in hospitals require a high-level disinfectant effective against bloodborne viruses; recall the bleach used in standard universal precautions.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Sodium Hypochlorite
- Ethyl alcohol
- Formaldehyde
- Chlorhexidine
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Approach: Biomedical waste and infection control
Blood spills in clinical areas must be managed per WHO/CDC universal precautions protocol:
Step 1: Remove gross blood with disposable towels, discard in yellow bag (infectious waste).
Step 2: Apply freshly prepared 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution (1:10 dilution of household bleach) directly onto the spill area.
Step 3: Leave for 10 minutes of contact time, then wipe clean.
Why sodium hypochlorite?
$\text{NaOCl}$ releases hypochlorous acid ($\text{HOCl}$) which is a potent oxidising agent that denatures proteins and disrupts lipid membranes of pathogens. At 0.5% (10,000 ppm), it is effective against:
\[\boxed{\text{Sodium Hypochlorite (0.5\%)}}\]
Blood spills in clinical areas must be managed per WHO/CDC universal precautions protocol:
Step 1: Remove gross blood with disposable towels, discard in yellow bag (infectious waste).
Step 2: Apply freshly prepared 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution (1:10 dilution of household bleach) directly onto the spill area.
Step 3: Leave for 10 minutes of contact time, then wipe clean.
Why sodium hypochlorite?
$\text{NaOCl}$ releases hypochlorous acid ($\text{HOCl}$) which is a potent oxidising agent that denatures proteins and disrupts lipid membranes of pathogens. At 0.5% (10,000 ppm), it is effective against:
- HIV, HBV, HCV (bloodborne viruses)
- Mycobacteria and bacterial spores at higher concentrations
\[\boxed{\text{Sodium Hypochlorite (0.5\%)}}\]
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