Abstract

Introduction: The sanitization of hospital surfaces is essential to prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). In this context, the use of natural disinfectants based on essential oils has gained interest as an alternative to conventional chemical products due to their antimicrobial efficacy and lower environmental impact. Therefore, this study aims to compare the effectiveness of natural disinfectants on hospital surfaces.
Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed and Embase, considering studies published in the last five years, with the following search terms: (“hospital disinfectants” OR “surface disinfection”) AND (“essential oils” OR “natural products”) AND (“conventional disinfectants” OR “chemical disinfectants”) AND (“efficacy” OR “antimicrobial effectiveness”) AND (“infection control” OR “hospital-acquired infections” OR “HAI”).
Results: The included articles evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of essential oils, such as Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree), Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), and Thymus vulgaris (thyme), compared to conventional disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite and quaternary ammonium compounds. The analysed studies demonstrated that essential oil-based natural disinfectants had comparable or superior efficacy to conventional disinfectants in combating relevant pathogens. Melaleuca alternifolia oil inhibited 95% of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) growth and 87% of Candida albicans, while sodium hypochlorite achieved 88% and 78%, respectively. Additionally, the eradication rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was 68% with conventional disinfectants, increased to 92% with Cymbopogon citratus-based formulations.
Conclusion: Essential oil-based disinfectants represent a viable and sustainable alternative for hospital surface sanitization. Their efficacy, combined with low environmental impact, highlights the need for further studies to validate large-scale applications and practical use in hospital settings.