Implementation of an Environmental Cleaning Protocol in Hospital Critical Areas Using a UV-C Disinfection Robot.

Improving the cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces is one of the core components of reducing healthcare-associated infections. The effectiveness of an enhanced protocol applying UV-C irradiation for terminal room disinfection between two successive patients was evaluated. Twenty high-touch surfaces in different critical areas were sampled according to ISO 14698-1, both immediately pre- and post-cleaning and disinfection standard operating protocol (SOP) and after UV-C disinfection (160 sampling sites in each condition, 480 in total). Dosimeters were applied at the sites to assess the dose emitted. A total of 64.3% (103/160) of the sampling sites tested after SOP were positive, whereas only 17.5% (28/160) were positive after UV-C. According to the national hygienic standards for health-care setting, 9.3% (15/160) resulted in being non-compliant after SOP and only 1.2% (2/160) were non-compliant after UV-C disinfection. Operation theaters was the setting that resulted in being less compliant with the standard limit (≤15 colony-forming unit/24 cm2) after SOP (12%, 14/120 sampling sites) and where the UV-C treatment showed the highest effectiveness (1.6%, 2/120). The addition of UV-C disinfection to the standard cleaning and disinfection procedure had effective results in reducing hygiene failures.

Role of environmental sanitization in health clinics: evaluation of potassium peroxymonosulfate (KMPS) efficacy at two different concentrations.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are closely related to several factors, such as prolonged hospital stay in high-risk areas and intensive care units, potentially predisposing underlying conditions. It has also been demonstrated that HAI incidence may be related to non-respected standards of assistance, such as not adequately cleaned structures or medical devices contaminated by environmental bacteria and multidrug resistant enterobacteria. OBJECTIVE: In this case it has been carried on an efficacy evaluation of a microionization system using potassium peroxymonosulfate (KMPS) for outpatient clinics indoor air disinfection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two outpatient clinics (AMB-1 and AMB-2) were treated with KMPS (1% and 2% concentration), at the end of routinary clinic activities. Microbial sampling of air (settle plates) and surfaces (contact plates) were submitted before and after sanitizing, checking total microbial load at 37°C, possible opportunistic pathogens and moulds. RESULTS: Sanitizing system at 1% concentration was efficient in mesophilic bacteria reduction (max 83%). Moreover, total abatement of Klebsiella pneumoniae in AMB1 and Acinetobacter lwoffi in AMB2 has been seen, both on surfaces. Regarding air samplings, 89% moulds reduction has been seen, as observed on surfaces. Scaling up concentration to 2%, mesophilic bacteria reduction was ≥ 94%, both in air and on surfaces of the outpatient clinics. Same results have also been seen on moulds, whose maximum reduction was 97%. DISCUSSION: Comparing results at different concentrations it has been observed that 2% KMPS induces an higher average reduction of mesophilic bacteria and moulds than 1%. BACKGROUND: In this regard, microbial reduction percentage, either on surfaces or in the air, can be considered positive for outpatient clinics and healthcare settings indoor decontamination.

Effectiveness of a Water Disinfection Method Based on Osmosis and Chlorine Dioxide for the Prevention of Microbial Contamination in Dental Practices.

In dental clinics, the infections may be acquired through contaminated devices, air, and water. Aerosolized water may contain bacteria, grown into the biofilm of dental unit waterlines (DUWLs). We evaluated a disinfection method based on water osmosis and chlorination with chlorine dioxide (O-CD), applied to DUWL of five dental clinics. Municipal water was chlorinated with O-CD device before feeding all DUWLs. Samplings were performed on water/air samples in order to research total microbial counts at 22-37 °C, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella spp., and chlorine values. Water was collected from the taps, spittoons, and air/water syringes. Air was sampled before, during, and after 15 min of aerosolizing procedure. Legionella and P. aeruginosa resulted as absent in all water samples, which presented total microbial counts almost always at 0 CFU/mL. Mean values of total chlorine ranged from 0.18-0.23 mg/L. Air samples resulted as free from Legionella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Total microbial counts decreased from the pre-aerosolizing (mean 2.1 × 102 CFU/m3) to the post-aerosolizing samples (mean 1.5 × 10 CFU/m3), while chlorine values increased from 0 to 0.06 mg/L. O-CD resulted as effective against the biofilm formation in DUWLs. The presence of residual activity of chlorine dioxide also allowed the bacteria reduction from air, at least at one meter from the aerosolizing source.

Effectiveness of Disinfection with Chlorine Dioxide on Respiratory Transmitted, Enteric, and Bloodborne Viruses: A Narrative Synthesis.

A viral spread occurrence such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has prompted the evaluation of different disinfectants suitable for a wide range of environmental matrices. Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) represents one of the most-used virucidal agents in different settings effective against both enveloped and nonenveloped viruses. This narrative synthesis is focused on the effectiveness of ClO2 applied in healthcare and community settings in order to eliminate respiratory transmitted, enteric, and bloodborne viruses. Influenza viruses were reduced by 99.9% by 0.5-1.0 mg/L of ClO2 in less than 5 min. Higher concentration (20 mg/L) eliminated SARS-CoV-2 from sewage. ClO2 concentrations from 0.2 to 1.0 mg/L ensured at least a 99% viral reduction of AD40, HAV, Coxsackie B5 virus, and other enteric viruses in less than 30 min. Considering bloodborne viruses, 30 mg/L of ClO2 can eliminate them in 5 min. Bloodborne viruses (HIV-1, HCV, and HBV) may be completely eliminated from medical devices and human fluids after a treatment with 30 mg/L of ClO2 for 30 min. In conclusion, ClO2 is a versatile virucidal agent suitable for different environmental matrices.