Decontamination Comparison: Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor (HPV) vs. Ultraviolet Radiation (UVC)

The fundamental differences between these technologies, in terms of their mode of antimicrobial action and the method of delivery, result in a marked difference in microbiological impact. Bioquell HPV eradicates pathogens on hospital surfaces and achieves a 6-log sporicidal reduction in vitro. In contrast, UVC systems do not eradicate pathogens from hospital surfaces, are less effective on areas out of direct line of sight, and achieve a 1 to 3-log reduction of spores in vitro.

The Bioquell HPV system utilizes an EPA registered sterilant that is sporicidal on porous and non-porous surfaces. The system achieves complete inactivation of C. difficile, VRE, MRSA, Acinetobacter and other Gram-negative bacteria in laboratory studies and on hospital surfaces, which is validated by demonstrating a >6-log reduction of Geobacillus stearothermophilus biological indicator (BI). Unlike UVC systems, there is no need for a special ‘spore’ setting. In addition, Bioquell HPV has proven efficacy against viruses relevant in the healthcare sector such as adenovirus, and norovirus surrogates such as MS2 coliphage and feline calicivirus. No published data exist regarding the efficacy of a UVC room disinfection system against nosocomial viruses.

No UVC system is an EPA-registered sterilant. Several studies of one UVC system indicate incomplete inactivation of C. difficile, VRE, Acinetobacter or MRSA from hospital surfaces, and a 1 to 4-log reduction on nosocomial pathogens in the laboratory. The microbiological reduction is significantly lower out of direct line of sight of the device.4-6 For example, in one study of a UVC device, only a 1-log reduction was achieved on C. difficile spores inoculated on plastic carriers and placed 10 feet away from the device out of direct line of sight, compared with 2.6-log in direct line of sight.

In another study, locations in direct line of sight were significantly more likely to be culture-negative after exposure to UVC than those out of direct line of sight.