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S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M AY 2 0 1 4
peroxide through high-velocity air streams for uniform surface coverage in
enclosed rooms. The study points to clinical research that has shown these sys-
tems eradicate pathogens from targeted surfaces and are effective in removing
clusters of pathogens during outbreaks of C. diff, MRSA and methicillin-suscep-
tible S. aureus and A. baumannii.
The study notes these systems require generators and aeration units to decon-
taminate a single room, making them a little more complicated to use than aHP.
Like aHP, the room's doors and air vents must be sealed during cycles.
The makers of a system that emits a continuous stream of balanced ions into
a room say the technology safely, continuously and effectively rids the air and
surfaces of existing pathogens without use of ultraviolet light, oxidizers and
chemicals. Ozone-based systems offer another option. A study in the American
Journal of Infection Control (
tinyurl.com/okatz5o
) says an ozone hydrogen perox-
ide vapor system provides a "very high level of disinfection of steel and gauze
surfaces against healthcare-associated bacterial pathogens."
Lighting the way
There are 2 types of whole room disinfection systems that deliver UV light to
targeted areas: the quick pulses of pulsed-xenon UV (PX-UV), some of which
are in the germicidal range, and the continuous doses of ultraviolet C radiation
(UVC), which are all in the germicidal range.
There's a reduction in surface contamination when UVC systems are used,
explains Dr. Otter, but if you swab surfaces after cycles, some pathogens will
remain. His study notes that previous research has indicated the technology can
significantly reduce surface contamination, but doesn't fully inactivate C. diff,
VRE, Acinetobacter or MRSA. Dr. Otter's study says pulsed-xenon ultraviolet sys-
tems emit broad spectrum UV in short pulses. Research has shown one leading
system significantly reduced vancomycin-resistant enterococci contamination on a
room's surfaces after a 12-minute cycle.
UV light aimed at 12 surfaces in 2 ORs for 4- to-5-minute cycles reduced con-
S U R F A C E D I S I N F E C T I O N
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