SRMC Patient Safety

Cleaning and disinfecting are not the same thing, though the terms are often used synonymously. Disinfecting is killing the bacteria and viruses on a surface, while cleaning is the removal of visible foreign matter from a surface. It is possible to be clean but not disinfected, and similarly, disinfected but not clean. We use Virex II 256, a hospital- and CDC-approved disinfectant, along with Oxivir and Clorox Healthcare wipes.