Can. J. Microbiol. 55(8): 928–933 (2009)  |  doi:10.1139/W09-046  |  Published by NRC Research Press / Publié par les Presses scientifiques du CNRC  

Application of a novel decontamination process using gaseous ozone

John Moat, James Cargill, John Shone, and Mathew Upton

Abstract: Environmental disinfection in a health care setting is an important aspect of infection control. Recently, there has been interest in the use of vapor- and gas-based treatments for decontamination of surfaces and rooms. We describe preliminary results for an ozone-based decontamination of surfaces seeded with a range of vegetative cells and spores of bacteria of clinical relevance. The efficacy of the approach for room sanitization was also assessed. The protocol included use of a quenching agent to rapidly reduce ozone concentrations to safe levels allowing treatment times of less than 1 h for the majority of organisms tested. Using bacteria seeded onto agar plates and solid surfaces, reductions in bacterial load of greater than 3 log values were recorded for a number of organisms including Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Application of the process in a 30 m³ room showed similar reductions in viable counts for these organisms and for Clostridium difficile spores. We suggest that the potential of this ozone–quench approach should be further evaluated for disinfection or decontamination of healthcare environments.

Key words: ozone, decontamination, healthcare-associated infection.

Résumé : La désinfection environnementale hospitalière constitue un aspect important du contrôle des infections. Récemment, l’utilisation de traitements à base de vapeur ou de gaz pour décontaminer les surfaces et les locaux a suscité de l’intérêt. Nous décrivons les résultats préliminaires d’un protocole de décontamination par l’ozone de surfaces ensemencées avec une variété de cellules végétatives et de spores de bactéries cliniquement pertinentes. L’efficacité de cette approche dans la désinfection des locaux a aussi été évaluée. Le protocole comprenait l’utilisation d’un agent modérateur pour réduire rapidement les concentrations d’ozone à des niveaux sécuritaires permettant d’utiliser des temps de traitement de moins d’une heure pour la majorité des organismes testés. En utilisant des bactéries ensemencées sur gélose et sur des surfaces solides, une réduction de la charge bactérienne supérieure à 3 log a été enregistrée pour plusieurs organismes incluant Escherichia coli et Staphilococcus aureus résistant à la méthicilline. L’application de ce procédé dans une pièce de 30 m³ a résulté en des réductions similaires du décompte des organismes viables et des spores de Clostridium difficile. Nous suggérons que le potentiel de cette approche basée sur l’utilisation d’ozone et d’un agent modérateur soit davantage évalué pour désinfecter ou décontaminer les environnements hospitaliers.

Mots-clés : ozone, décontamination, infection nosocomiale.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

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