The Hitchhiker's Guide to Hydrogen Peroxide Fumigation, Part 2: Verifying and Validating Hydrogen Peroxide Fumigation Cycles

Abstract

Introduction: Part 1 of this two-part series describes the use of hydrogen peroxide as a fumigant and compares it with other fumigants on the market. Technical requirements are outlined while considering physical and biological limitations of the system. This second part focuses primarily on the use of process controls to verify and validate hydrogen peroxide fumigations. Finally, a model encompassing the entire fumigation process is presented. Methods: Part 2 of the series focuses on the authors' long-time personal experiences in room and filter fumigation using various fumigation systems and is supplemented with relevant literature searches. Results: The reader is introduced to the planning and implementation of fumigation process validations. Biological indicators help users develop safe and efficient processes. Chemical indicators can be used as process controls, while measuring physical parameters will help avoid condensation of hydrogen peroxide. How many biological and chemical indicators and what type should be applied for cycle development are additionally explained. Discussion: It is important to consider numerous technical requirements when planning to implement hydrogen peroxide fumigation at an institution. Also, considerable thought needs to go into the verification and validation of the fumigation process. Conclusions: Part 1 of this series presents an overview of different fumigation systems based on hydrogen peroxide on the market and their technical requirements. Part 2 focuses on validation and verification of hydrogen peroxide fumigation while considering the entire fumigation process. The two parts together will serve users as a guide to establishing hydrogen peroxide fumigations at their facilities.

Public Buses Decontamination by Automated Hydrogen Peroxide Aerosolization System

“…The finding that G. stearothermophilus is the most resistant microorganism to H 2 O 2 is supported by research [74]. Several studies have suggested using G. stearothermophilus spores to validate the aHP process [75], [76]. We used 2.30 × 10 6 G. stearothermophilus ATCC 7953 to represent the most resistant strain to the aHP decontamination process and placed BIs in nine locations for each bus in accordance with the room sterilization protocol by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) that recommends for testing BI must contain ≥10 6 G. stearothermophilus (ATCC 7953) spores, and test location of BIs must include all corners of the rooms, wall faces, center location, and underneath horizontal surfaces [77].…”

Validation of the Decontamination of a Specialist Transport System for Patients with High Consequence Infectious Diseases

“…H 2 O 2 fumigation offers a highly practical and potentially effective means of decontaminating complex rooms, such as hospital wards or laboratories, as well as items of equipment [3,4], so long as these areas can be safely and effectively sealed off from their surroundings. Consequently, it is a viable option to decontaminate the multiple internal surfaces of EpiShuttle units after they have been used to transfer patients who are potentially suffering from HCID and, therefore, potentially shedding pathogens into their surroundings.…”

“…This paper describes a study that aims to validate the decontamination procedure that is applied to the EpiShuttle after each use. While EpiGuard have a manual decontamination procedure for the EpiShuttle that involves wiping with liquid disinfectant, a less 'hands-on' method would involve using a hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) vapour fumigation system [3,4], which may also ensure enhanced penetration to all of the parts of the equipment. HCID Units routinely use H 2 O 2 vapour fumigation for other decontamination requirements [5], but they require validation for its use with the EpiShuttle.…”

Dry-Fog-Dekontamination von mikrobiologischen Sicherheitswerkbänken nach Tätigkeiten mit SARS-CoV-2: Zyklusentwicklung und Prozessvalidierung für die Trockenvernebelung von Peroxyessigsäure

“…In particular, the comparable properties of the carrier material should allow easy transferability to HEPA filters. However, there are reasons that speak against such a choice [ 15 ], [ 16 ]. Filter paper is not ideal because it is very likely to absorb the disinfectant, concentrate it and release it over time, leading to false negatives, i.e., spurious inhibition of microbial growth.…”