inated surgical suites. This can be especially problematic if you have a
high case load. And some UV disinfection units can only provide spot
treatment, requiring you to move the units to multiple locations within
the room to achieve a full disinfection.
Ms. Pettis also notes that "you have to know how to place sensors
correctly, and sometimes you have to move them to be sure you've
disinfected shadowed areas, where the light doesn't hit the surface
head-on."
Hydrogen peroxide
There are a few different ways to deliver hydrogen peroxide into
ORs, including as a mist and as a vapor. Airborne hydrogen peroxide
is delivered through specialized machines that can be placed into any
room requiring terminal cleaning. These machines work to fog hydro-
gen peroxide vapor into the air, which reaches in and around every
surface in the enclosed space. Some of these machines produce a dry
mist, so sensitive electrical equipment in the OR isn't affected by con-
densation or moisture during disinfection.
This disinfection method assures that all surfaces are effectively
treated, regardless of whether they're visible. But there are challenges
associated with using such systems. A typical hydrogen peroxide dis-
infection machine takes longer to disinfect a room than other meth-
ods of cleaning, so once you start it, you'll be down a room for as long
as 2 hours.
"The challenge with these systems is that they require a lot of room
preparation," says Maureen Spencer, RN, M. Ed, CIC, corporate direc-
tor of infection prevention with Universal Health Services, noting that
you must disarm the fire alarm system, and seal the room and vents
during the treatment. "But if I had an Ebola case, for example, that's
what I'd use. … It's a much better penetration with hydrogen peroxide
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