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Evaluating Use of Neutral Electrolyzed Water for Cleaning Near-Patient Surfaces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2016

M. Stewart ,
A. Bogusz ,
J. Hunter ,
I. Devanny ,
B. Yip ,
D. Reid ,
C. Robertson  and
S. J. Dancer
M. Stewart
Affiliation:
Care of the Elderly Medicine, Hairmyres Hospital, National Health Service (NHS) Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
A. Bogusz
Affiliation:
Care of the Elderly Medicine, Hairmyres Hospital, National Health Service (NHS) Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
J. Hunter
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Hairmyres Hospital, NHS Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
I. Devanny
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Wishaw Hospital, NHS Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
B. Yip
Affiliation:
Care of the Elderly Medicine, Hairmyres Hospital, National Health Service (NHS) Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
D. Reid
Affiliation:
Care of the Elderly Medicine, Hairmyres Hospital, National Health Service (NHS) Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
C. Robertson
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom; and International Prevention Research Institute, Lyon, France
S. J. Dancer*
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Hairmyres Hospital, NHS Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
*
Department of Microbiology, Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire G75 8RG, United Kingdom (stephanie.dancer@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk).
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Abstract

Objective.

This study aimed to monitor the microbiological effect of cleaning near-patient sites over a 48-hour period with a novel disinfectant, electrolyzed water.

Setting.

One ward dedicated to acute care of the elderly population in a district general hospital in Scotland.

Methods.

Lockers, left and right cotsides, and overbed tables in 30 bed spaces were screened for aerobic colony count (ACC), methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) before cleaning with electrolyzed water. Sites were rescreened at varying intervals from 1 to 48 hours after cleaning. Microbial growth was quantified as colony-forming units (CFUs) per square centimeter and presence or absence of MSSA and MRSA at each site. The study was repeated 3 times at monthly intervals.

Results.

There was an early and significant reduction in average ACC (360 sampled sites) from a before-cleaning level of 4.3 to 1.65 CFU/cm2 at 1 hour after disinfectant cleaning (P <.0001). Average counts then increased to 3.53 CFU/cm2 at 24 hours and 3.68 CFU/cm2 at 48 hours. Total MSSA/MRSA (34 isolates) decreased by 71% at 4 hours after cleaning but then increased to 155% (53 isolates) of precleaning levels at 24 hours.

Conclusions.

Cleaning with electrolyzed water reduced ACC and staphylococci on surfaces beside patients. ACC remained below precleaning levels at 48 hours, but MSSA/MRSA counts exceeded original levels at 24 hours after cleaning. Although disinfectant cleaning quickly reduces bioburden, additional investigation is required to clarify the reasons for rebound contamination of pathogens at near-patient sites.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(12):1505–1510

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 35 , Issue 12 , December 2014 , pp. 1505 - 1510
Copyright
© 2014 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.

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