Bioquell, a ‘global expert’ in reducing the risk of biocontamination in the healthcare, life science, and pharmaceutical markets, has recently completed a 6-log decontamination of the key clinical areas within a newly constructed ‘world-class hospital’, Sidra Medicine, in Qatar. The disinfection of 450 rooms, with an overall area of 56,000 m3, was implemented in a 15-day time frame ahead of the facility’s grand opening.
Bioquell decontaminated a suite of 12 operating theatres, a sterile processing unit, paediatric and neonatal intensive care units, and other high risk patient areas such as oncology and dialysis. Its team worked alongside numerous departments at Sidra Medicine, with the project successfully completed within the allocated three-week timeframe.
The process was validated with Bioquell’s 6-log Geobacillus stearothermophilus biological indicators, and a third-party air sampling procedure organised by Sidra Medicine. A 6-log reduction was achieved in all areas within the scope, with 100% of the independent air sampling results being within the acceptable range.
Bioquell’s Rapid Bio-decontamination Service (RBDS) was chosen to establish a degree of sterility as high as practically possible within key areas. The company used its ‘scientifically-proven’ Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour (HPV) technology due to its ability to offer a scalable solution while maintaining a high efficacy standard. The larger areas being targeted – such as intensive care units and the operating theatre complex – were treated as single, discrete decontamination zones, minimising the risk of cross-contamination between rooms and corridors, and allowing the project to be completed in time.
The largest treated as a single zone was the operating theatre complex, with a total volume of some 7,000 m3. The entire suite was decontaminated within one day using 32 Bioquell HPV generators simultaneously to provide effective decontamination. Distribution fans were used to disperse the vapour within specified zones, while Bioquell’s aeration units provided the capacity to quickly break down the vapour to complete the decontamination cycle rapidly.
Bioquell’s 6-log Geobacillus stearothermophilus spore biological indicators were placed in challenging locations, as well as proprietary Bioquell chemical indicators designed to give a real-time verification of successful biodecontamination. Biological indicators ‘provide insight to the success of a cycle after a 24-hour incubation period’, with final results available after seven days.
All areas decontaminated strictly adhered to Bioquell safety protocols, with doors giving access to each target area sealed using Bioquell tape to prevent leaks, warning signs placed to prevent entry to the area during the cycle, and calibrated low level sensors to continually monitor the perimeter of each area throughout. The sensors also ensured that the HPV concentration had fallen below the safety limits after the cycle was complete.
Bioquell used 800 biological indicators to confirm the process’s efficacy. Additionally, Sidra Medicine arranged third-party air sampling tests in all of the decontaminated areas. All the air sampling results were within the acceptable limits. Following the project’s successful delivery, Sidra Medicine purchased multiple Bioquell BQ-50 Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour systems to perform regular decontamination of single rooms and other small areas.
