Role of environmental sanitization in health clinics: evaluation of potassium peroxymonosulfate (KMPS) efficacy at two different concentrations.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are closely related to several factors, such as prolonged hospital stay in high-risk areas and intensive care units, potentially predisposing underlying conditions. It has also been demonstrated that HAI incidence may be related to non-respected standards of assistance, such as not adequately cleaned structures or medical devices contaminated by environmental bacteria and multidrug resistant enterobacteria.

Objective: In this case it has been carried on an efficacy evaluation of a microionization system using potassium peroxymonosulfate (KMPS) for outpatient clinics indoor air disinfection.

Material and methods: Two outpatient clinics (AMB-1 and AMB-2) were treated with KMPS (1% and 2% concentration), at the end of routinary clinic activities. Microbial sampling of air (settle plates) and surfaces (contact plates) were submitted before and after sanitizing, checking total microbial load at 37°C, possible opportunistic pathogens and moulds.

Results: Sanitizing system at 1% concentration was efficient in mesophilic bacteria reduction (max 83%). Moreover, total abatement of Klebsiella pneumoniae in AMB1 and Acinetobacter lwoffi in AMB2 has been seen, both on surfaces. Regarding air samplings, 89% moulds reduction has been seen, as observed on surfaces. Scaling up concentration to 2%, mesophilic bacteria reduction was ≥ 94%, both in air and on surfaces of the outpatient clinics. Same results have also been seen on moulds, whose maximum reduction was 97%.

Discussion: Comparing results at different concentrations it has been observed that 2% KMPS induces an higher average reduction of mesophilic bacteria and moulds than 1%.

Background: In this regard, microbial reduction percentage, either on surfaces or in the air, can be considered positive for outpatient clinics and healthcare settings indoor decontamination.