Terminal decontamination of the Royal Free London's high-level isolation unit after a case of Ebola virus disease using hydrogen peroxide vapor

Jonathan A Otter; Stephen Mepham; Breda Athan; Damien Mack; Robin Smith; Michael Jacobs; Susan Hopkins

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.08.025

Terminal decontamination of the Royal Free London's high-level isolation unit after a case of Ebola virus disease using hydrogen peroxide vapor

Am J Infect Control. 2016 Feb;44(2):233-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.08.025.

Authors

Jonathan A Otter¹, Stephen Mepham², Breda Athan², Damien Mack², Robin Smith², Michael Jacobs², Susan Hopkins³

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Clinical Infection and Diagnostics Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, King's College London & Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Bioquell UK, Andover, UK.
² Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
³ Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: susanhopkins@nhs.net.

PMID: 26521699
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.08.025

Abstract

We report the decontamination of the high-level isolation unit at the Royal Free London after the discharge of a patient with Ebola virus disease, who was repatriated from West Africa. Hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) was used to decontaminate the patient care isolators and the rooms housing them. HPV decontamination was completed without incident and allowed the unit to be returned to service more quickly than the previous protocol of using formaldehyde.

Keywords: Contamination; Decontamination; Ebola; Hydrogen peroxide vapor.

MeSH terms

Cross Infection / prevention & control*
Decontamination / methods
Ebolavirus / drug effects*
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / prevention & control*
Humans
Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology*
Infection Control / methods*
Intensive Care Units
London
Patient Isolation / standards
Patient Isolators / standards*
Volatilization

Substances

Hydrogen Peroxide