Disinfecting noncritical medical equipment-Effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide dry mist as an adjunctive method

Evaluation of the prevention effect of high-quality nursing quality control in disinfection supply center on nosocomial infection

To explore the application effect of high-quality nursing quality control in disinfection supply center. The control group consisted of 1850 medical devices managed using the conventional quality control mode from January 2021 to December 2021, while the observation group consisted of 1900 medical devices managed using the high-quality nursing quality control mode from January 2022 to December 2022. The qualified rates of equipment cleaning, sterilization, and packaging were analyzed in both the observation and control groups. The occurrence of nosocomial infections in 2021 and 2022 were compared, and the changes in the Beck-Srivaatava stress scale index (BSSI) and Symptom Checklist-90 scores of the staff before and after implementing the high-quality nursing quality control mode were analyzed. The qualified rate of equipment cleaning, sterilization, and packaging in the observation group were 99.08%, 99.73%, and 99.78%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < .05). The incidence of nosocomial infections in interventional and surgical cases in 2022 was 0.79%, which was significantly lower than that in 2021 (P < .05). The BSSI score of female staff was (68.76 ± 7.81) points, which was higher than that of male staff (P < .05). After the implementation of the high-quality nursing quality control mode, the BSSI score of the staff was (47.76 ± 9.12) points, which was significantly lower than that before implementation (P < .05). After the implementation of the high-quality nursing quality control mode, the staff's Symptom Checklist-90 scores for somatization, compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, hostility, and paranoia were (1.28 ± 0.29), (1.53 ± 0.24), (1.50 ± 0.21), (1.46 ± 0.32), (1.44 ± 0.26), and (1.38 ± 0.30) points, respectively, showing a decrease compared to before implementation (P < .05). The high-quality nursing quality control mode has great application value in the disinfection supply center. It can effectively improve the qualified rates of equipment cleaning, sterilization, and packaging, prevent nosocomial infections and improve the working pressure and psychological health of staff.

Non-touch treatment to solve the persistent contamination of culture plates with Aspergillus niger in a clinical microbiology laboratory of Spain

A pseudo-outbreak of Aspergillus caused by false positive cultures can have a high sanitary impact. We determined the effectiveness (fungal load elimination) of a non-touch disinfection system, vs conventional disinfection methods, to solve steady contamination of culture plates with Aspergillus niger at a clinical microbiology laboratory. Routine cleaning-disinfection (RCD), intensive cleaning-disinfection (ICD), and terminal airborne disinfection (TAD) were employed in stages. Air sampling was carried out before and after each procedure. The effectiveness of TAD on contact surfaces was tested by surface sampling. After RCD, ICD, and TAD, there was a mean decrease of 5.4 (95% CI = 1.8-9.0), 19.2 (95% CI = 12.4-26.0), and 4.4 (95% CI = 2.5-6.3) CFU per tested area, and 46.2%, 21.7%, and 95.5% of contaminated areas became sterile, respectively. There was a mean decrease of 30.6 CFU per tested surface (p < 0.0007) and 50% of tested surfaces became sterile. Global effectiveness of RCD, ICD, and TAD was 68.8% (95% CI = 68.5-69.1), 82.2% (95% CI = 82.1-82.3), and 99.0% (95% CI = 98.8-99.2), respectively. The effectiveness was higher with TAD (4.1 CFU/cm2 less than with ICD; p = 0.0290). No further contamination has occurred since then. When construction and renovation activities are discarded and RCD and ICD practices are insufficient, non-touch disinfection remove residual dust contamination and avoid recurrence.

Disinfection and sterilization: New technologies

BACKGROUND

Adherence to professional guidelines and/or manufacturer's instructions for use regarding proper disinfection and sterilization of medical devices is crucial to preventing cross transmission of pathogens between patients. Emerging pathogens (e.g., Candida auris) and complex medical devices provide new challenges.

METHODS

A search for published English articles on new disinfection and sterilization technologies was conducted by Google, Google scholar and PubMed.

RESULTS

Several new disinfection methods or products (e.g., electrostatic spraying, new sporicides, colorized disinfectants, "no touch" room decontamination, continuous room decontamination) and sterilization technologies (e.g., new sterilization technology for endoscopes) were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

These technologies should reduce patient risk.

Treatment with dry hydrogen peroxide accelerates the decay of severe acute syndrome coronavirus-2 on non-porous hard surfaces

BACKGROUND

Disinfection of contaminated or potentially contaminated surfaces has become an integral part of the mitigation strategies for controlling coronavirus disease 2019. Whilst a broad range of disinfectants are effective in inactivating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), application of disinfectants has a low throughput in areas that receive treatments. Disinfection of large surface areas often involves the use of reactive microbiocidal materials, including ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, chlorine dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide vapor. Albeit these methods are highly effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2, the deployment of these approaches creates unacceptable health hazards and precludes the treatment of occupied indoor spaces using existing disinfection technologies. In this study, the feasibility of using dry hydrogen peroxide (DHP) in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 on contaminated surfaces in large indoor spaces was evaluated.

METHODS

Glass slides were inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 and treated with DHP between 5 and 25 ppb for up to 24 hours. Residual infectious virus samples were eluted from three replicates at each time point and titrated in African green monkey VeroE6 cells.

RESULTS

In comparison with the observed relatively high stability of SARS-CoV-2 on contaminated glass slides (control group), residual infectious titers of glass slides inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 were significantly reduced after receiving 120 minutes of DHP treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The accelerated decay of SARS-CoV-2 on contaminated glass slides suggests that treatment with DHP can be an effective surface disinfection method for occupied indoor spaces.

Bacterial but no SARS-CoV-2 contamination after terminal disinfection of tertiary care intensive care units treating COVID-19 patients

Background

In intensive care units (ICUs) treating patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) invasive ventilation poses a high risk for aerosol and droplet formation. Surface contamination of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or bacteria can result in nosocomial transmission.

Methods

Two tertiary care COVID-19 intensive care units treating 53 patients for 870 patient days were sampled after terminal cleaning and preparation for regular use to treat non-COVID-19 patients.

Results

A total of 176 swabs were sampled of defined locations covering both ICUs. No SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected. Gram-negative bacterial contamination was mainly linked to sinks and siphons. Skin flora was isolated from most swabbed areas and Enterococcus faecium was detected on two keyboards.

Conclusions

After basic cleaning with standard disinfection measures no remaining SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected. Bacterial contamination was low and mainly localised in sinks and siphons.