Question

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?

• A. Sodium Hypochlorite
• B. Ethyl alcohol
• C. Formaldehyde
• D. Chlorhexidine

Hint:

Blood spills in hospitals require a high-level disinfectant effective against bloodborne viruses; recall the bleach used in standard universal precautions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Identify the problem. Blood spillage on hospital floors represents a biological hazard requiring decontamination with a sporicidal/virucidal disinfectant that can effectively destroy bloodborne pathogens including HIV, HBV, and HCV.

Step 2: Evaluate the options.

• Sodium Hypochlorite -- the recommended agent for blood spills per universal precaution guidelines. Used at 0.5% concentration (10,000 ppm available chlorine), prepared as a 1:10 dilution of 5.25% bleach. It is effective against all bloodborne pathogens, including HIV and hepatitis viruses.
• Ethyl alcohol (70%) -- effective bactericide and virucide but evaporates quickly and is not suitable for large surface area blood decontamination; does not penetrate organic matter well.
• Formaldehyde -- toxic, carcinogenic; not used for floor disinfection.
• Chlorhexidine -- bacteriostatic/bactericidal, but not adequate for blood spill decontamination against viruses.

Step 3: Standard protocol. First wipe the area with water and detergent to remove visible blood, then apply 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (10,000 ppm). This is a 1:10 dilution of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite bleach, prepared fresh daily.

Step 4: Conclusion. Sodium Hypochlorite is the standard recommended disinfectant for blood spills in healthcare settings.