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By Sexton JD, Tanner BD, Maxwell SL, Gerba CP
Recent scientific literature suggests that portable steam vapor systems are capable of rapid, chemical-free surface disinfection in controlled laboratory studies. This study evaluated the efficacy of a portable steam vapor system in a hospital setting.
Methods
The study was carried out in 8 occupied rooms of a long-term care wing of a hospital. Six surfaces per room were swabbed before and after steam treatment and analyzed for heterotrophic plate count (HPC), total coliforms, methicillin-intermediate and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MISA and MRSA), and Clostridium difficile.
Results
The steam vapor device consistently reduced total microbial and pathogen loads on hospital surfaces, to below detection in most instances. Treatment reduced the presence of total coliforms on surfaces from 83% (40/48) to 13% (6/48). Treatment reduced presumptive MISA (12/48) and MRSA (3/48) to below detection after cleaning, except for 1 posttreatment isolation of MISA (1/48). A single C. difficile colony was isolated from a door push panel before treatment, but no C. difficile was detected after treatment.
Conclusion
The steam vapor system reduced bacterial levels by >90% and reduced pathogen levels on most surfaces to below the detection limit. The steam vapor system provides a means to reduce levels of microorganisms on hospital surfaces without the drawbacks associated with chemicals, and may decrease the risk of cross-contamination.
Copyright (c) 2011 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. PMID: 21641089 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher].
Am J Infect Control. 2011 Jun 8. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Sexton JD, Tanner BD, Maxwell SL, Gerba CP
Source: Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
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