Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.24141/1/3/1/11
Decontamination of Surfaces in the Hospital Environment with Hydrogen Peroxide – Our Experience in University Hospital Dubrava
Dubravka Grgurić
orcid.org/0000-0002-4676-8328
; University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia
Valentina Košćak
orcid.org/0000-0003-0445-642X
; University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The ability of bacteria to survive on different surfaces in the hospital environment is an important factor in their transfer from a patient or healthcare worker to the environment, another person or patient. Due to the above reasons, cleaning and disinfection of the environment are very important since the contaminated environment can serve as a reservoir for potential pathogens.
Disinfection can be performed mechanically (manual) or with a machine. KB Dubrava owns a decontamination device, GlosairTM 400, which disperses hydrogen peroxide in environment and decontaminates environment and surfaces at a certain time. Room decontamination is performed after interruption of isolation measures in patient room ie after discharge of a patient in which a multipurpose microorganism was found. Also, according to the indication, the decontamination of the operating room and the environment, in the patient room after the implementation of the protective isolation, and the implementation of anti-epidemic measures in the case of an emergency of hospital epidemics. During the active disinfection phase, the machine releases hydrogen peroxide, and creates a mist in the environment that disinfects all equipment and space. One decontamination cycle lasts for three hours. After disinfection, the area is safe for new patients and staff.
The advantages of decontamination of the surface area in the hospital with a dispensing device with hydrogen peroxide are the non-repair of medical supplies and equipment, it leaves no residues, so it can disinfect highly sophisticated equipment. The conducted hydrogen peroxide efficiency control on the surface shows great efficiency. All surfaces are sterile as compared to analyzed surface wiping findings after mechanical cleaning where sporadically fewer pathogens lag behind. Implementation of the room decontamination process proved to be effective in the control and prevention of hospital infections.
Keywords
disinfection; pathogen; hospital environment
Hrčak ID:
183322
URI
Publication date:
26.6.2017.
Visits: 3.343 *