Use of a Steam Generator for Disinfection of Hospital Ward Room Surfaces

Abstract

Objectives: The present work examines the ability of a method — based on saturated overheated dry steam — to decontaminate surfaces in patient rooms in a surgery ward. Study Design: An experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: The investigation was carried out in two rooms of a surgical ward at the Villa Erbosa health care facility in Bologna (Italy) over a period of three weeks. Methodology: Samples, using 24 cm diameter contact plates containing an agar-base medium, were taken before and after steam decontamination obtained using a professional steam generator. Results: After steam treatment, the number of CFU (colony forming unit) present on the surfaces analyzed was reduced by 88.41%. Conclusion: These results are significant and indicate that the use of steam provides good results in terms of decontamination of the surfaces in ward rooms. Furthermore steam not leaves residues that could be the source of subsequent chemical contamination of the surfaces.