Assessment of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide as an “untact” room disinfection automation system for rapid terminal decontamination of a single isolation room in a healthcare institution

Abstract Background This study evaluates the efficacy of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide (dHP) as an “untact” room disinfection automation system (URDAS) for rapid terminal room decontamination. Methods This prospective study was conducted at a university-affiliated hospital in Korea. After patient dis...

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Main Authors: Jin Woong Suh, Jeong Yeon Kim, Jang Wook Sohn, Sung Eun Lee, Hyeon Jeong Kim, Woo Jin Chi, Mi Na Lee, Young Kyung Yoon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-025-01613-7
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author Jin Woong Suh
Jeong Yeon Kim
Jang Wook Sohn
Sung Eun Lee
Hyeon Jeong Kim
Woo Jin Chi
Mi Na Lee
Young Kyung Yoon
author_facet Jin Woong Suh
Jeong Yeon Kim
Jang Wook Sohn
Sung Eun Lee
Hyeon Jeong Kim
Woo Jin Chi
Mi Na Lee
Young Kyung Yoon
author_sort Jin Woong Suh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study evaluates the efficacy of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide (dHP) as an “untact” room disinfection automation system (URDAS) for rapid terminal room decontamination. Methods This prospective study was conducted at a university-affiliated hospital in Korea. After patient discharge, dHP technology was used to decontaminate single rooms. Environmental cultures were collected from inanimate surfaces and room air before and after the decontamination process. Routine manual cleaning and disinfection were performed only after environmental sampling during terminal decontamination. Results After applying URDAS using dHP, culture positivity in the surface samples decreased from 20.5% (16/78) to 5.1% (4/78). Particularly, bed-removable tables and bedsheets used by patients often remain contaminated even after disinfection. Thirty-six species were isolated from the air cultures before disinfection, which decreased to 23 species after disinfection, representing a 36.1% reduction. The most frequently isolated pathogens after disinfection were S. aureus on fabric materials from surface samples and Aspergillus species from air samples. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that URDAS using dHP is an effective tool for disinfecting contaminated environmental surfaces and spaces in single isolation rooms with minimal risk of exposure to medical staff. However, further optimization is required to address the material- and pathogen-specific disinfection challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-a6d7f5f3fab44d39bbf8637ceb9c0cfe2025-08-20T04:03:11ZengBMCAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control2047-29942025-07-0114111010.1186/s13756-025-01613-7Assessment of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide as an “untact” room disinfection automation system for rapid terminal decontamination of a single isolation room in a healthcare institutionJin Woong Suh0Jeong Yeon Kim1Jang Wook Sohn2Sung Eun Lee3Hyeon Jeong Kim4Woo Jin Chi5Mi Na Lee6Young Kyung Yoon7Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at GangdongDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of MedicineDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of MedicineInfection Control Unit, Korea University Anam HospitalInfection Control Unit, Korea University Anam HospitalInfection Control Unit, Korea University Anam HospitalInfection Control Unit, Korea University Anam HospitalDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of MedicineAbstract Background This study evaluates the efficacy of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide (dHP) as an “untact” room disinfection automation system (URDAS) for rapid terminal room decontamination. Methods This prospective study was conducted at a university-affiliated hospital in Korea. After patient discharge, dHP technology was used to decontaminate single rooms. Environmental cultures were collected from inanimate surfaces and room air before and after the decontamination process. Routine manual cleaning and disinfection were performed only after environmental sampling during terminal decontamination. Results After applying URDAS using dHP, culture positivity in the surface samples decreased from 20.5% (16/78) to 5.1% (4/78). Particularly, bed-removable tables and bedsheets used by patients often remain contaminated even after disinfection. Thirty-six species were isolated from the air cultures before disinfection, which decreased to 23 species after disinfection, representing a 36.1% reduction. The most frequently isolated pathogens after disinfection were S. aureus on fabric materials from surface samples and Aspergillus species from air samples. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that URDAS using dHP is an effective tool for disinfecting contaminated environmental surfaces and spaces in single isolation rooms with minimal risk of exposure to medical staff. However, further optimization is required to address the material- and pathogen-specific disinfection challenges.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-025-01613-7Hydrogen peroxideDecontaminationInfection controlMultidrug resistantDisinfection
spellingShingle Jin Woong Suh
Jeong Yeon Kim
Jang Wook Sohn
Sung Eun Lee
Hyeon Jeong Kim
Woo Jin Chi
Mi Na Lee
Young Kyung Yoon
Assessment of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide as an “untact” room disinfection automation system for rapid terminal decontamination of a single isolation room in a healthcare institution
Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control
Hydrogen peroxide
Decontamination
Infection control
Multidrug resistant
Disinfection
title Assessment of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide as an “untact” room disinfection automation system for rapid terminal decontamination of a single isolation room in a healthcare institution
title_full Assessment of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide as an “untact” room disinfection automation system for rapid terminal decontamination of a single isolation room in a healthcare institution
title_fullStr Assessment of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide as an “untact” room disinfection automation system for rapid terminal decontamination of a single isolation room in a healthcare institution
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide as an “untact” room disinfection automation system for rapid terminal decontamination of a single isolation room in a healthcare institution
title_short Assessment of dry-fogged hydrogen peroxide as an “untact” room disinfection automation system for rapid terminal decontamination of a single isolation room in a healthcare institution
title_sort assessment of dry fogged hydrogen peroxide as an untact room disinfection automation system for rapid terminal decontamination of a single isolation room in a healthcare institution
topic Hydrogen peroxide
Decontamination
Infection control
Multidrug resistant
Disinfection
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-025-01613-7
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