Effectiveness of dry hydrogen peroxide on reducing environmental microbial bioburden risk in a pediatric oncology intensive care unit

Abstract

Background: Routine manual cleaning and disinfection of the health care environment is often suboptimal. Residual contamination poses an infection risk, particularly for immunocompromised patients. This study evaluates the efficacy of dry hydrogen peroxide (DHP) on microbial surface contamination in a pediatric oncology intensive care unit. Methods: Surface samples from 5 high-touch and 2 low-touch surfaces were obtained for culture and adenosine triphosphate readings after manual cleaning on multiple days in 4 intensive care unit rooms, before and after DHP was deployed. Air samples were collected as well at the study site. Data outcomes were measured in terms of total colony-forming units for the cultures and relative light units for adenosine triphosphate. Results: The overall mean surface microbial burden was significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the control group (mean 5.50 vs 11.77, P<.001). These reductions in colony-forming units were seen across all sampling sites in the intervention group. A reduction in the mean relative light units levels was also noted in the intervention group when compared to the control group (172.08 vs 225.83, P <.006). Reductions with the air samples were also noted (P = .139). Conclusions: Study demonstrates that DHP was effective in reducing microbial surface contamination and improves quality of environmental cleaning.

Treatment with Dry Hydrogen Peroxide Accelerates the Decay of Severe Acute Syndrome Coronavirus-2 on Non-porous Hard Surfaces

“…Our study provides the rst evidence for the virucidal activity of DHP, which has mainly been validated for the inactivation of human bacterial pathogens in the past 15 . The outcome further justi es the evaluation of DHP in inactivating other enveloped RNA viruses that are transmitted through contaminated surfaces.…”

“…The rst laboratory was charged with DHP by allowing the continuous operation of a Sentry DHP generator at full output of 38 cubic feet per minute (Synexis LLC, Lenexa, KS) for 24 hours prior to the experiment. This setting generates DHP at a concentration no greater than 25 parts per billion (ppb) 15 .The second laboratory was used as a control environment which maintained the negative air pressure required for BSL-3 laboratories. To simulate the air exchange conditions in public spaces, the rate of air exchange in both BSL-3Ag laboratories was reduced to seven air exchanges per hour, the minimal frequency required for the maintenance of negative air pressure.…”

Evaluation of dry hydrogen peroxide in reducing microbial bioburden in a healthcare facility

“…These results align with previous research demonstrating statistically significant reductions in surface microbial bioburden with use of DHP™ as an adjunct to standard manual cleaning protocols. 36,37 Further, a recent study of DHP™ in a pediatric oncology intensive care unit demonstrated reductions in both air and surface contamination along with a robust safety profile. 37 In the present study, DHP™ resulted in an overall 96.…”

“…36,37 Further, a recent study of DHP™ in a pediatric oncology intensive care unit demonstrated reductions in both air and surface contamination along with a robust safety profile. 37 In the present study, DHP™ resulted in an overall 96. Contaminated surfaces play an essential role in the transmission of pathogens via hand contamination of healthcare personnel and increase the risk for future patients occupying the rooms.…”

Using continuous cleaning technology to enhance standard disinfection practices

“…The CFUs in the air in the rooms with the DHP units also were reduced compared with the control rooms, but the difference was not statistically significant. 5…”