Effectiveness of Hypochlorous acid in hospital disinfection

Introduction

Hospital disinfection is crucial for infection prevention, especially with rising bacterial resistance. Effective disinfectants compliant with European biocide regulations (528/2012 CE) are needed. At Clínica Universidad de Navarra, we started using Hypochlorous acid (Klorxitol®) in March 2022. We conducted a study to verify its efficacy by taking surface cultures before and after its application.

Methods

Hypochlorous acid (Klorxitol®) was applied via nebulization in wards and misting in operating theatres. We cultured five surfaces before and after disinfection on nine occasions. Nebulization used the BYOPLANET® Electrostatic Sprayer System, which requires no PPE or ventilation sealing. The high-touch surfaces sampled included patient armchairs, toilet flushes, nurse call bells, bed trays, and bed controls. In operating rooms, a mist system sprayed Klorxitol® for 15 seconds, followed by a 5-minute settling time. The sampled surfaces included the surgical table, keyboards, instrument tables, and door elbow push pads. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS, calculating the absolute reduction in Colony-Forming Units (CFU) pre- and post-disinfection. Paired Student's t-tests and confidence interval calculations were used, with results presented in BoxPlot diagrams.

Results

Both application methods demonstrated significant efficacy. The BYOPLANET® Electrostatic Sprayer System showed a significant reduction in CFU (P < 0.001). Specific surfaces with significant reductions included the bed rail (p = 0.002) and table edge (p = 0.019), though the cistern handle was not significant (p = 0.171). The mist system also showed a significant CFU reduction. The mean CFU count decreased from 20.17 (95% CI -2.05 – 62.39) with a SD of 30.7 before disinfection to 8.33 (95% CI -11.59 – 28.25) with a SD of 18.98 after disinfection (p = 0.031).

Conclusion

Hypochlorous acid (Klorxitol®) effectively reduces bacterial contamination on hospital surfaces, meeting disinfection standards and supporting its use as a reliable disinfectant in healthcare settings.