Automated Area Decontamination Overview: Advanced Technology to Augment Manual Cleaning

On February 15, Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) hosted an informational Webinar about automated area decontamination titled “Automated Area Decontamination Overview: Advanced Technology to Augment Manual Cleaning.” The Webinar featured representatives from ASP, including registered nurses and a microbiologist, discussing the role of the environment in infection prevention and highlighting the benefits of automated area decontamination. The speakers also shared automated area decontamination best practices and highlighted features of the GLOSAIR™ System.

If you were unable to attend the live broadcast of the Webinar, an archive is now available for on-demand viewing at http://www.aspjj.com/us/media/webinar_video.

Featuring:

• Barbara Trattler, RN, MPA, CNOR, CNA
  Director, Clinical Education for ASP

• Charles Roberts
  Director of Research, Microbiology and Chemistry for ASP

• Nancy Fellows, RN
  Senior Clinical Education Consultant for ASP

Advanced Technology to Augment Manual Cleaning Key Take-Aways:

• Charles Roberts, Director of Research, Microbiology and Chemistry for ASP, explained the role of the environment in the transmission of nosocomial pathogens and noted that improved cleaning decreases environmental contamination and the acquisition of pathogens. He said, “The good news is that technological advances have the potential to offer improved thoroughness of cleaning and greater consistency through automation.”

• Nancy Fellows, RN, Senior Clinical Education Consultant for ASP, highlighted the benefits of automated area decontamination and stated, “New technologies such as automated room decontamination systems, including GLOSAIR™ Systems, can help healthcare facilities improve their environment.”

• Nancy and Charles also provided an overview of GLOSAIR™ Systems, including data and case studies. Nancy noted, “Since routine cleaning of healthcare facilities does not always eliminate pathogens, use of GLOSAIR™ Systems to augment manual cleaning processes can provide healthcare facilities and patients with increased confidence that the patient environment has been thoroughly disinfected against many pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections."

Q&A Session:

Following are the most popular and pressing questions answered regarding automated area decontamination:

Q: How can I learn more about the GLOSAIR™ System for my facility? Are systems available for demos?
A: ASP has a number of educational materials available to help your adoption of this technology as easy as possible, including individualized and personalized support. We would also encourage you to contact your local ASP rep directly or e-mail Don Buskirk at dbuskirk@its.jnj.com if you do not have an ASP representative. Demonstrations are available upon request, and ASP reps are happy to run you through a cycle.

For more information about the GLOSAIR™ System, please visit www.ASPJJ.com/GLOSAIR.

Q: Do you have GLOSAIR™ Systems available and how quickly could I receive one?
A: Yes. We have systems available, but of course, the sooner an order is received, the faster we can anticipate your needs and begin working with you.

Q: What are the differences between what the GLOSAIR™ System offers in terms of disinfection and what UV disinfection offers?
A: According to peer-reviewed studies, the efficacy of UV disinfection depends on a number of factors, including intensity, exposure time, lamp placement and air movement patterns. Studies have also shown that UV decontamination systems are less effective in shadowed areas or other areas that receive indirect UV light – these are known as “line of sight” issues.

The GLOSAIR™ System has no “line of sight” issues, since it works by creating a mist of hydrogen peroxide that is uniformly dispersed to disinfect all hard nonporous surfaces – including the nooks and crannies.

Studies have found that hydrogen peroxide, which is used in the GLOSAIR™ Systems, is highly effective in eradicating various pathogens, but it is not yet fully understood if use of UV decontamination systems decreases the incidence of healthcare-associated infections.ⁱ

Q: Why does the GLOSAIR™ System use a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide mist while other systems use higher concentrations?
A: GLOSAIR™ Systems use a low concentration (5%) of hydrogen peroxide, which is noncorrosive to materials and, when used as directed, safe for patients and equipment.

This concentration allows for the frequent use needed to augment routine cleaning of patient rooms and operating suites to reduce the risk of patient contact with infection-causing pathogens.

Q: Do you offer educational resources?
A: Yes, at ASP we have a number of tools to help your adoption of this technology be as easy as possible, including individualized and personalized support. When you call us with interest in the GLOSAIR™ System, we immediately assess your needs and recommend the best options for your facility. In addition to equipment, we can assist you with training and education to help ensure that your facility operates with minimum downtime and maximum predictability. Our highly-skilled team of field service engineers, dedicated technical support staff and licensed clinical professionals is available to answer your questions and to help ensure your facility operates efficiently at all times.

For more information about the GLOSAIR™ System and other ASP products, please visit our newly enhanced Web site at www.ASPJJ.com, which provides convenient, centralized access to the latest information from ASP. In addition, we have launched ASP’s Infection Prevention TV YouTube site at www.youtube.com/InfectionPrevention, where you can find informational videos, including the full archived presentations of ASP’s other Webinars. For the most up-to-the-minute information from ASP, you can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ASPJJ.

View the Webinar

If you were unable to attend the live broadcast of the Webinar, an archive is now available for on-demand viewing at http://www.aspjj.com/us/media/webinar_video.