Vapour-producing robots used against Ebola
Bioquell system has been deployed globally during the current outbreak
Areas in the High Level Isolation Unit at the Royal Free Hospital in the UK, where a patient was recently treated for Ebola Virus Disease, have been sterilised using hydrogen peroxide vapour producing ‘robots’. The effectiveness of the technology, designed and produced by UK company Bioquell, has been extensively evaluated by the NHS. The system has been deployed globally during the current outbreak.
The portable, automated system uses 35% hydrogen peroxide, which is distributed as a vapour throughout the decontamination area, ensuring full three-dimensional coverage. The peroxide is then removed, allowing admission of another patient within 90 minutes.
'With a pathogen such as Ebola, totally eliminating any risk of residual contamination is clearly of paramount importance,' said James Salkeld, Head of Healthcare at Bioquell. 'It is encouraging that hospitals are now adopting the same zero tolerance mindset towards more common pathogens such as MRSA and C.diff, routinely using this technology after patient discharge.'
