Bioquell disinfection system is a success in Showcase Hospital programme
The UK Department of Health and NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency have published a report outlining the successful deployment of the Bioquell Proactive service in seven NHS Showcase Hospitals as part of the Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI) Technology Innovation Programme.
Bioquell’s hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) disinfection system disinfects hospital areas and equipment that can be sealed off during the decontamination process. As part of the HCAI Technology Innovation Programme, the DoH set up a Rapid Review Panel (RRP) to assess new and novel technologies and consider their potential for reducing hospital infections. The Bioquell system was awarded RRP recommendation 1 in 2007.
Technologies that received an RRP1 recommendation were then placed in selected Showcase Hospitals for review of their acceptability in everyday use and to gather information that may be useful for other hospitals.
In response to this report, Bioquell's head of RBDS, Matthew Parks, said: "By placing Bioquell's Proactive decontamination Service into busy operational NHS settings, the DoH has been able to assess the benefits of our service. Despite the inherent problems of introducing new technologies into existing operational structures, I am delighted that we achieved such a high level of approval with all hospital staff. With hospitals always extremely busy it is extremely good news that we were able to implement this service with 83% of those surveyed reporting no delay to the admission or discharge of patients."
The system was used in seven Showcase Hospitals for four months to disinfect patient rooms, clinical areas and equipment. In total 2,093 rooms were disinfected, with a total room volume of 113,345 m3. There were wide variations in usage between the Showcase Hospitals and from week to week within them, with the main issue being the availability of rooms for disinfection at the times when the Bioquell engineers were available.
The Bioquell system did not cause undue disruption and was very popular - 99% of staff would recommend it. Patients too generally liked the system and were reassured to know that rooms were disinfected. Good communications between bed managers, facilities and estates departments and the Bioquell engineers help minimise disruption.
The company has also launched a new HPV generator – the Clarus L2 – for complete surface bio-decontamination. This upgrade to the Clarus L includes a variety of new features to better resolve complex contamination issues that can arise in this vast and diverse sector.
Key features include optimised cycle performance for fast and effective bio-decontamination and compatibility with standard 1/2 litre or 1litre bottles, making it suitable for multiple cycles.
The system can bio-decontaminate rooms and enclosures up to 75m3. It also has critical condition monitoring with alarming set points compatible with GMP and GLP requirements. Advanced software and controls allow for simple integration into a building management system (BMS) or with the Clarus PORT rapid decontamination transfer chamber.
The system is suitable for disinfecting GMP cleanrooms, aseptic processing suites; biologics, material transfer chambers, decontamination of autoclaves / freeze driers, robotic enclosures, safety cabinets and isolators.
The PASA report can be obtained from http://www.clean-safe-care.nhs.uk www.bioquell.com
