Microbial control on high-touch surfaces in health care facilities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disinfection technologies, such as vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) and ultraviolet light, are inadequate for continuous microbial control in dynamic healthcare environments, leading to high nosocomial infection rates due to recontamination and operational limitations, and there is a need for innovative strategies to reduce multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) on high-touch surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method using Dry Hydrogen Peroxide (DHP) generating devices to maintain a continuous concentration of DHP between 5.0 and 50 ppb in healthcare facilities, ensuring thorough microbial reduction by distributing DHP through HVAC systems and monitoring VOCs to maintain effective disinfection levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) is used for disinfection, then microbial reduction is achieved, but the environment cannot be occupied during treatment and recontamination occurs quickly after treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of hydrogen peroxide from vaporized (VHP) to dry gaseous form (DHP). This parameter change allows the disinfectant to remain effective without requiring environmental sealing or evacuation, and provides continuous microbial control without rapid recontamination. The DHP system maintains effective concentrations in occupied spaces indefinitely, unlike VHP which requires sealed environments and has limited duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The DHP generating device provides continuous production and distribution of dry hydrogen peroxide gas, ensuring uninterrupted disinfection action. Unlike VHP which is applied as a one-time treatment followed by recontamination, the DHP system continuously generates and distributes the disinfectant, maintaining effective concentrations indefinitely in occupied spaces and preventing recontamination.
2Reliability
If ultraviolet light is used for disinfection, then microbial control is achieved, but it cannot provide continuous disinfection in dynamic environments and recontamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The DHP generating device continuously produces and distributes dry hydrogen peroxide gas, providing ongoing disinfection action in dynamic healthcare environments. Unlike ultraviolet light which requires direct line-of-sight exposure and cannot penetrate obstacles, DHP diffuses freely throughout the environment and provides continuous microbial control indefinitely in occupied spaces.
3Reliability
If DHP generating devices are deployed, then continuous microbial control is achieved, but device complexity and monitoring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The DHP generating device is designed to automatically generate and distribute dry hydrogen peroxide gas without requiring complex monitoring or control systems. The device self-regulates to maintain effective concentrations, and the system integrates seamlessly with existing HVAC infrastructure, minimizing additional complexity while providing reliable continuous microbial control.
4Reliability
If DHP concentration is maintained at effective levels, then microbial reduction is achieved, but VOC monitoring and concentration control add operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates VOC monitoring and DHP concentration control with feedback mechanisms that automatically adjust device operation to maintain effective disinfection levels. The monitoring system provides real-time data on environmental conditions and DHP concentrations, enabling automated adjustments that simplify operation while ensuring reliable microbial reduction effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method significantly reduces nosocomial infections by at least 70% and maintains reduced MDRO levels for at least 30 days, providing a stable disinfection environment that overcomes challenges of recontamination and operational constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a 'sail' is illuminated by a blacklight (a UVA lamp, 315 to 400 nm) which drives a photocatalytic reaction of water and oxygen to produce DHP gas
Implementation Method 2
the absorption of photons at certain catalyst defined wavelengths generates a reactive ionized region called a 'plasma' at the catalyst's surface
Implementation Method 3
generates a reactive ionized region called a 'plasma' at the catalyst's surface. Plasmas consist of positive ions and free electrons as well as hydroxyl radicals, hydroxyl ions, superoxides, ozone ions, hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen ions
Implementation Method 4
DHP gas diffuses freely throughout the environment, limited only by its reactivity. As DHP is highly reactive, as it mixes and diffuses, it is degraded
Data Source
AI summary
Improved methods for reducing and preventing nosocomial infections is provide comprising installing one or more dry hydrogen peroxide (DHP) generating devices into a healthcare treatment area, producing DHP, and maintaining the concentration between 1.0 parts-per-billion (ppb) and 200 ppb.