Alternative Room Disinfection Modalities –Pros and Cons - Use of Biocidal Surfaces for Reduction of Healthcare Acquired Infections - page 185

Chapter 9
Alternative Room Disinfection
Modalities - Pros and Cons

George Byrns

Contents
9.1 Introduction ................................................................................ 188
9.2 Methods .................................................................................... 192
9.3 Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
9.3.1 Fumigation Benefits: Efficacy, Effectiveness and Efficiency . . ................. 192
9.3.2 Fumigation Risks: Health and Safety and Costs . . ............................... 195
9.3.3 UVC Germicidal Irradiation Risks and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
9.4 Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
9.5 Conclusion ................................................................................. 202
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

Abstract The purpose of this Chapter is to review the efficacy, effectiveness, and
efficiency of chemical fumigation and germicidal UVC irradiation use in healthcare
and other related environments. The primary objective is to identify when the
benefits associated with fumigation or irradiation outweigh the risks of human
injury or other adverse effects. It is hypothesized that both fumigation and UV
irradiation are capable of killing microorganisms; however, it is uncertain whether
the benefits in terms of overall hospital patient infection rates outweigh the risks
and costs associated with these methods.

Keywords Hospital acquired infections • Fumigation • UV irradiation

• Environment • Contamination