Measuring environmental contamination in critical care using dilute hydrogen peroxide (DHP) technology: An observational cross-over study

Oon, A.; Reading, E.; Ferguson, J.K.; Dancer, S.J.; Mitchell, B.G.

Abstract

Background
The environment has an important role in the transmission of healthcare associated infections. This has encouraged interest in novel methods to improve hygiene in hospitals. One such technology is the use of hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate rooms and equipment; there are, however, few studies that have investigated the effect of continuous dilute hydrogen peroxide (DHP) in the clinical environment. The aim of this study was to examine the use of dilute hydrogen peroxide (DHP) in a critical care unit and measure the microbiological impact on surface contamination.

Methods
We conducted a prospective observational cross-over study in a ten-bed critical care unit in one rural Australian hospital. Selected high-touch sites were screened using dipslides across three study phases: baseline; continuous DHP; and no DHP (control). Quantitative aerobic colony counts (ACC) were assessed against a benchmark standard of ACC >2.5 cfu/cm 2 to indicate hygiene failure.

Results
There were low levels of microbial contamination in the unit for baseline; DHP; and no DHP phases: 2.2% (95% CI 0.7–5.4%) vs 7.7% (95% CI 4.3–13.0%) vs 6% (95% CI 3.2–10.4%) hygiene failures, respectively. Significant reduction in ACCs did not occur when the DHP was operating compared with baseline and control phases.

Conclusion
Further work is needed to determine whether continuous DHP technology has a role in decontamination for healthcare settings.

Citation

Oon, A., Reading, E., Ferguson, J., Dancer, S., & Mitchell, B. (2020). Measuring environmental contamination in critical care using dilute hydrogen peroxide (DHP) technology: An observational cross-over study. Infection, Disease & Health, 25(2), 107-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2019.12.005

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 15, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jan 13, 2020
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: May 15, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2020
• Journal: Infection, Disease & Health
• Print ISSN: 2468-0451
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 107-112
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2019.12.005
• Keywords: Infection control; Health services; Cross infection; Microbiology; Health facility environment; Disinfection
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2663348