06 Mar 2012
A team of scientists has pointed to hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) as being more effective than traditional methods as a decontaminating agent.
The team of experts, working at St George’s Hospital in London, published the results of their study into the spread of disease in healthcare centres in the Journal of Hospital Infection.
A test on the previous market leading cleaning agent, aerosolised hydrogen peroxide, found that the chemical failed to effectively inactivate a number of different bacteria.
HPV was found to more effectively combat the disease-causing bacteria. It is dispersed using a generator manufactured by hospital cleaning firm Bioquell.
Infectious disease is one of the most widespread challenges facing healthcare in the UK, with the most common bacteria, such as superbugs MRSA and Clostridium difficile, infecting many patients each year.
Copyright Press Association 2012