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Comparison of the Microbiological Efficacy of Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor and Ultraviolet Light Processes for Room Decontamination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Nancy L. Havill ,
Brent A. Moore  and
John M. Boyce
Nancy L. Havill*
Affiliation:
Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut
Brent A. Moore
Affiliation:
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
John M. Boyce
Affiliation:
Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
*
Hospital of Saint Raphael, 1450 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511 (nhavill@srhs.org)
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Abstract

Objective.

To compare the microbiological efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) and ultraviolet radiation (UVC) for room decontamination.

Design.

Prospective observational study.

Setting.

500-bed teaching hospital.

Methods.

HPV and UVC processes were performed in 15 patient rooms. Five high-touch sites were sampled before and after the processes and aerobic colony counts (ACCs) were determined. Carrier disks with ~106Clostridium difficile (CD) spores and biological indicators (BIs) with 104 and 106Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores were placed in 5 sites before decontamination. After decontamination, CD log reductions were determined and BIs were recorded as growth or no growth.

Results.

93% of ACC samples that had growth before HPV did not have growth after HPV, whereas 52% of sites that had growth before UVC did not have growth after UVC (P < .0001). The mean CD log reduction was >6 for HPV and ~2 for UVC. After HPV 100% of the 104 BIs did not grow, and 22% did not grow after UVC, with a range of 7%–53% for the 5 sites. For the 106 BIs, 99% did not grow after HPV and 0% did not grow after UVC. Sites out of direct line of sight were significantly more likely to show growth after UVC than after HPV. Mean cycle time was 153 (range, 140–177) min for HPV and 73 (range, 39–100) min for UVC (P < .0001).

Conclusion.

Both HPV and UVC reduce bacterial contamination, including spores, in patient rooms, but HPV is significantly more effective. UVC is significantly less effective for sites that are out of direct line of sight.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 33 , Issue 5 , May 2012 , pp. 507 - 512
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2012

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