Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour / Liquid Disinfectants

Hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination systems - taking control of the hospital environment...

BIOQUELL's unique hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) decontamination technology is ideally suited for use in healthcare facilities due to its rapid, flexible and 'residue-free' nature. HPV has extensive, proven biological efficacy against a wide range of environmentally associated nosocomial pathogens, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile, Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) Klebsiella, Acinetobacter and other problematic Gram negatives.

Environmental Contamination in Hospitals

Contaminated hands of healthcare workers are the most common route of transmission for nosocomial pathogens. However, the hands of healthcare workers can become contaminated indirectly through contact with contaminated environmental surfaces, even after cleaning; hence environmental surfaces can be reservoirs for indirect transmission.

Many nosocomial pathogens including MRSA, C. difficile, Acinetobacter spp., Norovirus and VRE contaminate inanimate surfaces and objects in the hospital environment. Nevertheless, there is controversy in the scientific literature surrounding the exact contribution of environmental contamination to the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. There is accumulating scientific evidence that a contaminated environment is an important reservoir for transmission of nosocomial pathogens.

Liquid Disinfectant or Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour (HPV)

Certain chemical disinfectants, such as sodium hypochlorite (bleach), may not be suitable for the disinfection of sensitive electronics due to significant material compatibility issues. A vapour-phase method, such as HPV, which is non-corrosive, provides a useful option for the effective decontamination of the intricate surfaces and interior of medical equipment, common in modern healthcare facilities.

BIOQUELL offers two related HPV room bio-decontamination options to the NHS; The Room Bio-Decontamination Service (RBDS) and the BIOQUELL Z. Both systems utilise the same technology with the RBDS being operated by BIOQUELL's trained engineers, the BIOQUELL Z is purchased and operated by the hospital personnel.

The RBDS system is infinitely scalable, so that entire buildings can be bio-decontaminated. In a busy hospital, it is more likely that RBDS will be restricted to room or ward decontamination because the enclosure must be vacated during the process. Once the cycle is complete patients can return to the area almost immediately after the equipment has been removed.

There are 3 different deployment options for RBDS:

• "Proactive" - a team of fully trained and equipped BIOQUELL engineers are assigned to the hospital, establishing a routine of bio-decontamination throughout the facility.
• "Scheduled" - programmed bio-decontamination during scheduled shutdown or as part of a deep cleaning programme.
• "Emergency" - where urgent action is demanded for outbreak and Infection control (e.g. Clostridium difficile, Acinetobacter, MRSA, Serratia, Norovirus).

The "Proactive" option provides greater flexibility and scope for developing an enhanced decontamination strategy with a hospital. Possible benefits include the replacement of current deep cleaning, which has questionable efficacy.

The BIOQUELL Z provides a fast, simple and cost effective means of HPV decontamination, ready to be used as a seek and destroy tool, or as part of an infection control plan. It can be used to decontaminate ICU's, 6-bed bays, patient side wards, equipment decontamination rooms and isolation rooms.

Both systems offer:

• High level of efficacy in deactivating vegetative and spore forming bacteria, viruses and fungi, including MRSA, Clostridium difficile, Acinetobacter baumannii, E.coli, VRE, Klebsiella, Serratia and Aspergillus.
• HPV decontamination leaves no residues, eliminating the need for a post decontamination clean / wipe down.
• Sensitive electronic equipment will also be decontaminated as there is no need to remove this from the area.
• Decontamination is validated using 6-log Geobacillus stearothermophilus biological indicators.

BIOQUELL Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour systems are 'level one' technology as recommended by the Health Protection Agency 'Rapid Review Panel' which states that:

"Basic research and development, validation and recent in use evaluations have shown benefits that should be available to NHS bodies to include as appropriate in their cleaning, hygiene or infection control protocols."

Decontamination case studies can also be found on the Department of Health web pages.