Table 17.1.
An overview of ‘no-touch’ automated room disinfection systems
| The ‘ideal’ NTD system | Aerosolised hydrogen peroxide (aHP) | H2O2 vapour | UVC | Pulsed xenon UV (PX-UV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short cycle time (< 1 h) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗/✓ | ✓ |
| High level of microbial efficacy (6-log sporicidal reduction) | ✗/✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Pathogens not culturable from surfaces after the cycle | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Easy to operate | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fully automated operation | ✓ | ✓ | ✗/✓ | ✗ |
| Immediate room entry availablea | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No requirement of room sealing | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Homogeneous distribution | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| US EPA registered | ✗ | ✓ (Sterilant) | ✗ | ✗ |
| UK Rapid Review Panel recommendationb | 3 | 1 (HPV); 2 (VHP) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Evidence of clinical impact | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
✓ = does meet the characteristic of the ‘ideal’ NTD system.
✗ = does not meet the characteristic of the ‘ideal’ NTD system.
✗/✓= it is not clear whether or not the characteristic of the ‘ideal’ NTD system is met.
a
Immediate room entry may be advantageous in the event of an emergency.
b
Rapid review panel recommendations are as follows:
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1.Basic research and development, validation and recent in use evaluations have shown benefits that should be available to NHS bodies to include as appropriate in their cleaning, hygiene or infection control protocols.
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2.Basic research and development has been completed and the product may have potential value; in use evaluations/trials are now needed in an NHS clinical setting.
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3.A potentially useful new concept but insufficiently validated; more research and development is required before it is ready for evaluation in practice.