Cases of
Clostridium difficile
infection have been successfully reduced at a Hospitals Trust in
Gloucestershire following the introduction of measures that includes hydrogen
peroxide vapour bio-decontamination.
Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of hospital-acquired
diarrhoeal disease in the UK. Controlling its incidence in hospitals is a key
target for the government and healthcare professionals.
Three years ago, Gloucestershire Hospitals
implemented a series of infection control procedures ranging from the
introduction of cohort wards, antibiotic control and empirical treatment for
suspected
C. diff infection cases, to Bioquell's hydrogen peroxide
vapour (HPV) bio-decontamination. As a result of these measures, the Trust
achieved a 65% reduction in
C. diff infection rates.
Last year, just 267 cases were recorded,
compared to 771
C. diff infection cases reported in 2007. Significant
reductions were achieved almost immediately (518 cases in 2008 and 302 cases in
2009) demonstrating the effectiveness of a coordinated approach.
Over the three-year period, 2,763 areas
were decontaminated using HPV within the hospital. HPV is a highly effective
treatment that can clear the rooms of all biological contamination, providing a
clean environment for patient re-admission. Typical cycle treatment times vary
by room size. At Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, an average size single
occupancy room took approximately 2 hours to decontaminate. Larger
multi-occupancy bays took on average 4 hours to decontaminate after which
patients could be re-admitted.
C. diff endospores are usually highly
resistant to decontamination and can survive for months on surfaces such as
taps, sinks, bed rails, light switches and tables, creating a reservoir of
infection.
C. diff can then be either directly transferred to patients
via the environment or indirectly transferred to patients via the hands of
healthcare workers. The HPV process ensures complete surface sterilisation as
the vapour penetrates throughout the room. It is also highly effective against
endospores, breaking down cellular structures and the internal cell contents.
Commenting on the success, Deputy Nursing
Director Paul Garrett said: "HPV technology has played an important part in
helping to reduce
C. diff infection as part of an overall bundle of
interventions. The approach helps to decontaminate hard-to-clean medical
equipment, such as monitors, due to the vapour process. The Bioquell system has
now been successfully integrated into the daily operations of our hospitals."
For more information visit
www.bioquell.com
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