Cleaning and disinfection in home care: A comparison of 2 commercial products with potentially different consequences for respiratory health

•Describes the significance of cleaning and disinfection (C&D) work in home care and the importance of balancing infection prevention and respiratory health goals.•Evaluates the effectiveness of two C&D products—a bleach-containing product and an environmentally preferable product – for common household touch points in 46 homes.•Both products removed micro-organisms including Staphylococcus aureus from sampled surfaces.•Staphylococcus aureus was found in seven homes (out of 46) and Clostridium difficile in one home.•Additional research with other cleaning products and in more households is needed to develop robust recommendations for safe and effective C&D in home care. Home care aides perform personal care and homemaking services in client homes, including cleaning and disinfection (C&D). Although C&D are performed to remove soil and dust, they are increasingly performed for infection prevention. Many C&D products contain respiratory irritants. The objective of this study was to evaluate 2 commercial products for C&D effectiveness on common household surfaces in seniors' homes. Two C&D visits were conducted in 46 seniors' homes. One visit applied a bleach-containing cleaning product and the other applied an environmentally preferable product. Before and after C&D, the study team performed organic soil bioluminometer measurements on surfaces and collected cotton swab and wipe samples for total bacteria count, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium difficile identification. Both products removed microorganisms from tested surfaces. S aureus was found in 7 households, 1 strain of which was methicillin-resistant. Both products removed S aureus from all surfaces. Bleach-containing products removed somewhat more soil than environmentally preferable products, although results were statistically significant for only 1 surface. The study showed similar, not identical, C&D performance for 2 cleaning products with potentially different consequences for respiratory health. Additional research is needed to develop robust recommendations for safe, effective C&D in home care.