HPV bio-decontamination outclasses aHP in latest research findings

Published: 9-Sep-2011

In an independent, head-to-head trial, Bioquell’s HPV outperformed an aHP system


Bio-decontamination in hospitals is significantly more effective using hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) technology compared with aerosolised hydrogen peroxide (aHP), according to the latest research findings from Sweden.

In an independent, head-to-head trial of two room decontamination technologies, Bioquell’s HPV inactivated 100% of the Geobacillus stearothermophilus biological indicators (BI) using a single cycle. The aHP system from ASP Glosair (previously branded Sterinis) managed to inactivate only half of the BIs despite the use of three back-to-back cycles.

The team of research doctors, based at Lund University, Malmö, also demonstrated further performance benefits when using the Bioquell Q-10 HPV equipment. It reached higher peak hydrogen peroxide room concentrations (338ppm vs 160ppm) and achieved a shorter cycle time (3 hours vs 3.5 hours).

The trial was set up following calls two years ago for head-to-head bio-decontamination studies by leading environmental microbiology expert Dr John Boyce. The Malmö team built a full-scale mock-up of an isolation room to run the trial. This mimicked the new Infectious Disease facility at Skäne University Hospital (SUS). In the trial, only one Bioquell Q-10 suite was used, and two ASP Glosair (Sterinis) aHP machines, as recommended by the manufacturers.

The advanced hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) technology used by Bioquell technicians bio-deactivates a wide range of animal and human pathogens. It is a safe and environmentally friendly process of high-level room and equipment decontamination.

“We’ve known that different bio-decontamination systems achieve different results. I’m proud of the solid base of research that Bioquell’s HPV technology has been founded upon and this has been reflected convincingly in this latest peer-reviewed scientific paper,” said James Salkeld, Bioquell’s Head of Healthcare.

“Hospital infection control teams can continue to be rest assured that using our ‘true HPV’ technology will eliminate environmental bio-decontamination and stop the spread of healthcare associated infections in their tracks.”

The research paper, ‘A head-to-head comparison of hydrogen peroxide vapour and aerosol room decontamination systems’, by Holmdahl et al is available in the Journal of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, published online 22 July 2011 (www.jstor.org/pss/10.1086/661104).

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