Whole-Room Hypochlorous Acid Atomizing Disinfection System on Healthcare Surface Contamination and Transfer

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> Surfaces play a major role in the transmission of pathogens in the healthcare environment. Manual terminal cleaning efficacy in this environment can be highly variable due to differences in training, compliance, and room layout, among other inherent complexities. Whole-room, no-touch disinfection systems have been shown to reduce microbial loads in the environment. When used in tandem with manual disinfection protocols, disinfection efficacy may be further increased. <h3>Methods</h3> Bacterial tracers were seeded onto 12 surfaces, both high- and low-touch, in a hospital room. Following seeding, 2 disinfection methods were evaluated; manual terminal cleaning alone, and manual terminal cleaning in tandem with a whole-room, hyphoclorous acid atomizing disinfection system. Surfaces were sampled pre- and post-disinfection. Each cleaning method was repeated a total of 4 times on separate days, for a total of 48 observations per method. Seeded trials were further used to determine cross-contamination potentials during cleaning practices. Labor efficiency of each method was also evaluated. <h3>Results</h3> Manual terminal cleaning alone achieved, on average, a 2.4 log (99.6%) reduction. In comparison, tandem terminal cleaning achieved a 4.9 log (99.9987) reduction on average. Cross-contamination (i.e., transfer of organisms from seeded to an uncontaminated surface during cleaning) was observed in 50% of the surfaces for manual terminal cleaning whereas in tandem 0% was observed. Tandem cleaning also resulted in a 64% decrease in the time spent manual cleaning of the rooms. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Whole-room atomized disinfection used in tandem with manual terminal cleaning protocols improved disinfection outcomes, minimized the effects of cross-contamination observed during cleaning practices, and lowered manual labor times.