New disinfection technique could revolutionize hospital room cleaning

December 9, 2011 in Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

A Queen's University infectious disease expert has collaborated in the development of a disinfection system that may change the way hospital rooms all over the world are cleaned as well as stop bed bug outbreaks in hotels and apartments.

"This is the future, because many hospital deaths are preventable with better cleaning methods," says Dick Zoutman, who is also Quinte Health Care's new Chief of Staff. "It has been reported that more than 100,000 people in North America die every year due to at a cost of $30 billion. That's 100,000 people every year who are dying from largely preventable infections."

Dr. Zoutman has also used this disinfection technology to kill . A major U.S. hotel chain has already expressed interest in the technology because of its potential to save the company millions of dollars in lost revenue and infected furniture.

Dr. Zoutman worked in collaboration with Dr. Michael Shannon of Medizone International at laboratories located in Innovation Park, Queen's University. Medizone is commercializing the technology and the first are scheduled for the first quarter of 2012.

The new technology involves pumping a Medizone-specific and vapour into a room to completely sterilize everything – including floors, walls, drapes, mattresses, chairs and other surfaces. It is far more effective in killing bacteria than wiping down a room.

Dr. Zoutman says the technique is similar to what we now know Mother Nature uses to kill bacteria in humans. When an antibody attacks a germ, it generates ozone and a minute amount of hydrogen peroxide producing a new highly reactive compound that is profoundly lethal against bacteria, viruses and mold.

"It works well for Mother Nature and is working very well for us," says Dr. Zoutman

There are other disinfecting technologies that involve pumping gas into a room, but Medizone's method is the only one that sterilizes as well as surgical instrument cleaning. It also leaves a pleasant smell and doesn't affect any medical equipment in the room. The entire disinfection process is also faster than other methods – it takes less than one hour.

Dr. Zoutman says the technology could also be used in food preparation areas and processing plants after outbreaks such as listeria and to disinfect cruise ships after an infection outbreak.

Provided by Queen's University search and more info website

5 /5 (7 votes)  

Filter


Move the slider to adjust rank threshold, so that you can hide some of the comments.


Display comments: newest first

Squirrel
Dec 09, 2011

Rank: 4 / 5 (1)
But will it kill bugs buried under dirt that standard methods wipe away? I suspect this method requires that a room has a precleaning preparation before the ozone and hydrogen peroxide gets to work.
Isaacsname
Dec 09, 2011

Rank: not rated yet
But will it kill bugs buried under dirt that standard methods wipe away? I suspect this method requires that a room has a precleaning preparation before the ozone and hydrogen peroxide gets to work.


Good point, there's nothing like good 'ol fashion elbow grease.

You made me think back to when it was discovered that even though hospitals had been sterilizing the tubing used for non-invasive surgical techniques and " other " things, the insides weren't getting clean at all, they subsequently found things like blood and fecal matter in " clean " equipment .

*barfs*
rwinners
Dec 10, 2011

Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
I wonder. I do hope this process is 100 percent effective, because if one deadly little bug survives the treatment, it could be the beginning of the end for all of us.
Tausch
Dec 10, 2011

Rank: 4 / 5 (1)
I have told all bugs of the world to turn on their gene expressions that result in higher tolerance to O3 and H2O2 gas.

Let no bug say I did not warn them. They told me they insist in living with humans, no matter how abominable the before and after conditions.
Rank 5 /5 (7 votes)
Relevant PhysicsForums posts

More news stories

Swine flu pandemic of 2009 more deadly for younger adults, study finds

As the world prepares for what may be the next pandemic strain of influenza virus, in the H7N9 bird flu, a new UC Irvine study reveals that the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic was deadliest for people under the age of 65, while ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 18 minutes ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Polio cases found in Kenya and Somalia, WHO says

The World Health Organization says the Horn of Africa is experiencing an outbreak of polio with cases confirmed in Kenya and Somalia.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 1 hour ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

SARS-like virus claims new life in Saudi

A man who had contracted the coronavirus has died in Saudi Arabia, raising the death toll in the kingdom from the SARS-like virus to 17, the health ministry announced on its website on Wednesday.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 1 hour ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Novel approach for influenza vaccination shows promise in early animal testing

A new approach for immunizing against influenza elicited a more potent immune response and broader protection than the currently licensed seasonal influenza vaccines when tested in mice and ferrets. The vaccine ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 1 hour ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Mild hypothyroidism raises mortality risk among heart failure patients

Patients with underlying heart failure are more likely to experience adverse outcomes from mild hypothyroidism, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 3 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Having both migraines, depression may mean smaller brain

(HealthDay)—Migraines and depression can each cause a great deal of suffering, but new research indicates the combination of the two may be linked to something else entirely—a smaller brain.

Baby's life saved with groundbreaking 3-D printed device that restored his breathing

Every day, their baby stopped breathing, his collapsed bronchus blocking the crucial flow of air to his lungs. April and Bryan Gionfriddo watched helplessly, just praying that somehow the dire predictions weren't true.

'Boys will be boys' in US, but not in Asia

A new study shows there is a gender gap when it comes to behavior and self-control in American young children – one that does not appear to exist in children in Asia.

Canada lifts ban on gay men donating blood

Canadian health authorities lifted Wednesday what was effectively a ban on gay men giving blood, announcing new rules making men who have not had sex with men in the past five years eligible.

CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray at initial screening exam

National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) investigators also conclude that the 20 percent reduction in lung cancer mortality with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) versus chest X-ray (CXR) screening previously reported in the ...

More doctors, hospitals using electronic records

(AP)—The Obama administration says more doctors and hospitals are embracing technology as adoption of computerized medical records reaches a "tipping point" in America.