RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Hospitals are exposed to abundant contamination sources with limited remediation strategies. Without new countermeasures or treatments, the risk of hospital-associated infections will remain high. This study explored the impact of advanced photohydrolysis (AP) continuous disinfection technology on hospital environmental bioburden. METHODS: Two acute care Intensive Care Units in different locations (i.e., Kentucky, Louisiana) during different time periods. Locations were sampled every 4 weeks for 4 months for colony forming units (CFUs) of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and fungi on surfaces and floors and fungi and aerobic bacteria in air. RESULTS: At both sites, surface testing showed greater than 98% reduction in mean fungi and MRSA CFUs. Floor results had reductions by more than 96% for fungi and MRSA at both sites. Aerobic bacterial air and fungal CFUs had reductions up to 72% and 89%, respectively. HAIs declined 70% when post activation data was compared to pre-activation data. DISCUSSION: The continuous nature of the AP decontamination, its ability to be used in occupied rooms, and its independence of human resources, provides an innovative intervention for complex healthcare environments. CONCLUSIONS: This study is on the pioneering edge of demonstrating that continuous decontamination can reduce surface, floor, and air contamination and thereby reduce acquisition of HAIs.
