Healthcare facility disinfecting process and system with oxygen/ozone mixture.
Abstract
A system and process is described for disinfecting rooms such as healthcare facility rooms with an oxygen / ozone mixture, which is effective in combating 'super bugs' such as Clostridium difficile (C. difficile); E. coli; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). In preferred embodiments, hydrogen peroxide is additionally used. The system and process are effective in destroying bacteria deposited on surfaces such as biofilm, and, accompanied by physical agitation such as jet nozzle exit, are effective in disinfecting carpets, drapes, and similar absorbent and porous surfaces.

Term
3.8 yearsleft in the term
Expires 5 July 2030.
- Priority
- Filed
- Granted
- Today
- Expires
8 claims: 6 independent, 2 dependent
- 1IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO __ T J-, w—J-, DE LA PROPIEDAD REIVINDICACIONES industrial 1. Un proceso para combatiga<=; απ..... _yn espacio encerrado dentro de una habitación y contenidas en biopeliculas sobre las superficies dentro de la habitación, caracterizado porque dicho proceso comprende:crear en la habitación una atmósfera de desinfección que incluye ozono en una concentración de 2-350 ppm en peso y peróxido de hidrógeno en una cantidad de 0.210% en peso, a una humedad relativa de por lo menos 60%, en donde la cantidad de peróxido de hidrógeno se deriva de una solución de suministro de peróxido de hidrógeno de 0.2-10%;someter las superficies que llevan biopelicula que tienen bacterias vivas en la misma a la atmósfera de desinfección durante un periodo de tiempo efectivo para provocar el exterminio sustancial de las bacterias en la biopelicula, el periodo de tiempo es de por lo menos 30 minutos;y remover subsecuentemente el ozono de la atmósfera, abajo de 0.04 ppm o menos.
- 2El proceso de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque el tiempo de exposición es de aproximadamente 30 minutos a 120 minutos, o de 60 a 105 minutos, o 90 minutos.
- 3El proceso de conformidad con la reivindicación 1 o reivindicación 2, caracterizado porque la IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD cantidad de ozono en la atmosfera de gas de ^'rá T £'ámie?rtn^es preferentemente de 20 a 350 ppm, o de 20 ^^TTO’'PpTfi7 ü “O r '’20' 1 3' 90 ppm, o 35 a 80 ppm.
- 4El proceso de conformidad con cualquiera de las reivindicaciones 1-3, caracterizado porque la cantidad de peróxido de hidrógeno en la atmósfera de desinfección es de 1-5% y se deriva de una solución de suministro de peróxido de hidrógeno de 0.2-10%
- 5El proceso de conformidad con cualquiera de las reivindicaciones 1-4, caracterizado porque la temperatura de la atmósfera de desinfección es de 15-30’C.
- 6El proceso de conformidad con cualquiera de las reivindicaciones 1-5, caracterizado porque las bacterias que se combaten son Clostridium difficile (C. difficile') ;E. coli;Pseudomonas aeruginosa;Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina (MRSA);Enterococcus resistente a la vancomicina (VRE) ;o combinaciones de dos o más de las bacterias.
- 7El proceso de conformidad con cualquiera de las reivindicaciones 1-6, caracterizado porque incluye la etapa adicional de someter superficies porosas y fibrosas dentro de la habitación con agitación física mientras se exponen a la atmósfera de desinfección, opcionalmente en donde la agitación física se conduce con aplicación de cerdas, además opcionalmente en donde la agitación física se ΐΜΤΠτυτα mexicano M LA ηοΠΕΠΑΙ» cC^gSjgSI conduce con una aplicación de chorros de presTSfí^'tie además opcionalmente en donde la agitación fíSÍt'H se·· eofiekaee— con aplicación de energía ultrasónica, energía de radiofrecuencia u ondas electromagnéticas, capaces de causar 5 la alteración física.
- 8El proceso de conformidad con cualquiera de las reivindicaciones 1-7, caracterizado porque las superficies que llevan biopelicula se exponen a una corriente localizada de la atmósfera de desinfección. 10 9. El proceso de conformidad con cualquiera de las reivindicaciones 1-8, caracterizado porque la presión de la atmósfera de desinfección cuando las superficies que llevan biopelicula se exponen a la misma es arriba de la presión atmosférica, preferentemente de 101 KPa a 67 KPa 15 (14.7 a 100 psi) . IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO RESUMEN DE LA INVENCIÓN M Άνγηιγγ*α* Se describe un sistema y ornean para Hpsi nfpetar habitaciones tales como habitaciones de centro de atención médica con una mezcla de oxigeno/ozono, que es efectiva para 5 combatir superinsectos tales como Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) ;E. coli;Pseudomonas aeruginosa;y Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina (MRSA);y Enterococcus resistente a la vancomicina (VRE). En modalidades preferidas, se usa adicionalmente peróxido de hidrógeno. El sistema y 10 proceso son efectivos para destruir bacterias depositadas sobre las superficies como biopelicula, y, acompañados por agitación física tal como salida de boquilla de chorro, son efectivos para desinfectar alfombras, cortinas y superficies absorbentes y porosas similares.
Independent claims8
514 paragraphs in 51 sections, as filed
Institute
Mexican Property
Industrial
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Headlines):
Address:
Denomination:
Classification:
Inventor (s):
Number:
PATENT TITLE NO. 344243
MEDIZONE INTERNATIONAL INC
144 Buena Vista, Stinson Beach, California, 94970-0742, USA
PROCESS AND DISINFECTION SYSTEM OF HEALTH CARE CENTERS WITH OXYGEN / OZONE MIXTURE.
lnt.CI.8: A61L2 / 20
MICHAEL EDWARD SHANNON; DICK ERIC ZOUTMAN
REQUEST
Date of presentation Hospitalization ^:
MX / a / 2012/000302 of July 2010
PRIORITY
Country:
Date:
Number:
US
US Jul 2009 Jan. 2010
61/223,219
61/295,851
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Validity: Twenty years
Expiration Date: July 5, 2030 the reference patent is granted based on articles 1, 2<sup>or</sup> fraction V, 6<sup>or</sup> Section III, and 68 of the Law of the Industrial P ad.
In accordance with article 23 of the Industrial Property Law, this patent is valid for twenty years, renewable, counted from the filing date of the international application and will be subject to the payment of the fee to keep it in force. rights.
Whoever signs this title does so based on the provisions of articles 6 ° fnaaaones III and 7 ° bis 2 φ of the Industrial Property Law (Official Gazette of the Federation (DÓ.F.) £ 7/06/1991. -.J-macte M 02/0811954 10/25/1996, 12/26/19 (7, 05/17/1999, 01/26/2004. 06/16/2005, 01/25/2006, 05/06 / 2009,06 / 01/2010, 06/18/2010, 06/28/2010, 01/27/2012 and 04/09/2012); articles t », 3 fraction V paragraph a), 4<sup>or</sup> and 12th sections I and III of the Regulations of the MtMtMM 'M-Ür'fftWtotfad Industrial Institute (DOF 12/14/1990, amended on ¢ 07/01/2002, 07/15/2004, 07/07/2004 and 07/07 09/2007); items 1<sup>or</sup>, 3°, 4”, 5<sup>or</sup> fraction Vinciso a), 16 sections I and III and 30 of the Organic Statute of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (DOF 12/27/1998, amended et 10/10/2002, WW / 2004, 08/04/2004 and 13 / 09/2007); 1st, 3rd and 5th<sup>or</sup> Subsection a) of the Agreement that delegates powers to the Deputy General Directors, Coordinator, Divisional Directors, Heads of Regional Offices, Divisional Deputy Directors, Departmental Coordinators and other subordinates of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property. (DOF 12/15/1999, amended on 02/04/2000, 07/29/2004, 08/04/2004 and 09/13/2007).
Issue Date: December 8, 2016
DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF PATENTS
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NAHANNY CANAL REYES
Arenal No 550. Floor 1
Coi. Puebic Sarna Maria Tepepan
XuctiifiHiou. CP '5020, Mexico City
Tea!. (55) 53 34 07 00 wwv / .impi qob.mx
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CENI DISINFECTION PROCESS AND SYSTEM
MEDICAL WITH OXYGEN / OZONE MIXTURE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to disinfection systems for use in medical care centers, public health centers and the like, to eliminate or at least to reduce to acceptable levels, microbial residues that are resistant to conventional disinfectant and sterilization systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Despite intensive preventive efforts in recent years in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, the incidence of life-threatening infections caused by a growing array of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (sometimes referred to as superinsects) has grown significantly. And now it is posing a serious problem for medical personnel around the world. According to an editorial in the journal Science (July 2008), the number of deaths in 2006 attributable to bacterial infections in healthcare facilities in the United States exceeded the number of victims in the United States attributed to HIV / AIDS. in the same year, and results in probably as many as 70,000 deaths a year in the United States. This is despite the best efforts of healthcare personnel to clean
IMPI
INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA FROHf.DAO appropriately its centers and the ccWt'ewidd team
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themselves.
The main causative agents (bacteria) of are Clostridium difficile (C.
difficile); AND.
col i;
Pseudomonas aeruginosa; and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA);
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE).
Approximately
5% of all intensive care hospitalizations in the
The United States develops a nosocomial infection with an incidence rate of five infections per thousand patient-days, and an additional expense of more than $ 4.5 billion (Wentzel R,
Edmond MD,
The Impact of Hospital Acquired Blood Stream Infections,
Emerg. Inf.
Dis., March-April 2001: 7 (174)). When this rate is applied to the 35 million patients admitted to 7,000 intensive care institutions in the
state
United, it is estimated that there are more than 2 million cases a year. Nosocomial infections are estimated to at least double the mortality and morbidity risks of any patient admitted to bacteria.
Epidemic
The significant and growing incidence of medical resistant has
Silent
been called antibiotics by in the centers some as of a
On the international scene, a Silent Epidemic study. On the international scene, a World<sup>3</sup> ΙΜΡΙ
INSTITUTE MFJUCAN · J \
OF THE PROPERTY
Health Organization of 55 hospitals in <sup>IN</sup>?<sup>l</sup>T<sup>r</sup><sup>l</sup>*<sup>l</sup>country ^ s ^ representing four WHO regions (Europe,<sup>1</sup> Müdl'LULLáiiuu from the East, South-East Asia and the West Pacific) reported that an average of 8.7% of hospital patients had nosocomial infections. The WHO estimates that, at any one time, more than 1.4 million people in the world suffer from a hospital-acquired infection.
Of particular concern in this context are the bacteria C difficile and MRSA. Until recently, C difficile was relatively rare, but has now become epidemic in many regions of the world. In fact, it is now recognized by a growing number of public health officials as a worldwide epidemic (pandemic) with incalculable health and financial implications. MRSA has been identified by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons as the greatest concern for surgical procedures, and according to recent journal articles it constitutes a silent epidemic. Under current healthcare facility cleaning and sterilization procedures, both C difficile
<td>like MRSA,</td><td>as well as the already mentioned E. coli;</td>
<td>Pseudomonas</td><td>aeruginosa; and Enterococcus resistant to</td>
<td>vancomycin</td><td>(VRE), are ineffectively treated and removed</td>
subsequently, so that colonies of these pathogens accumulate in healthcare facilities, especially
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on porous surfaces such as al
Attempts to combat and kill nosocomial infections caused by bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are hampered by the fact that the bacteria develop within biofilms that protect them from adverse environmental factors. A biofilm is an aggregate of microorganisms in which cells adhere to each other and / or to a surface. They are frequently embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), a polymeric conglomeration generally composed of extracellular DNA, proteins, and polysaccharides. Biofilms are formed on surfaces, for example, the hospital environment, in the presence of water vapor.
Microorganisms that float free in the plantonic (single cell) mode adhere to a surface, and if they are not removed immediately, they will become more permanently anchored to the surface. These early colonizers provide more diverse adhesion sites for the arrival of other cells, thus beginning to build a matrix that holds the biofilm together and provides additional anchoring sites for arriving cells. The biofilm develops through a combination of cell division and recruitment. When the biofilm is established the aggregated cell colonies are
INSTITUTO MEXICANO increased <sup>OF</sup>“» 'Á & t evidently so
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antibiotics. It has also been reported that biofilm uses chemical weapons to defend themselves against disinfectants and antibiotics (see Biofilm Bacteria
Protect
Themselves With Chemical contributors, Helmholtz
Brauschweig, reported in
2008).
The plantonic properties of
Weapons, Dr. Carsten
Mat zy
Cetre for Infection Research, lnforniac.com, July 23, Bacteria that live in a biofilm have significantly different forms of the same species, since the dense and protected environment of the film allows them to cooperate and interact traditional infections persistence in several shapes.
is not usually develop
Antibiotic therapy sufficient to eradicate chronic, seems to be environmental factors
Also of bioterrorist and a main reason for its that of is the capacity of the bacteria the biofilms that adversely.
Increasing concern war threatening that are protect them from attacks use potentially lethal bacteria. Some of the lethal bacteria, for example anthrax, are highly resistant to conventional agents and treatment contamination constitutes a significant threat public sterilization.
The with these bacteria to human life with residual amounts of these
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INSTITUTO MEXICANO bacteriá<sup>)</sup>faith<sup>L</sup>í '
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impossible to remove using current methods. __
BRIEF REFERENCE TO THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE
Current procedures for disinfecting hospitals and other healthcare facilities have become increasingly ineffective, resulting in the accumulation of lethal bacteria throughout all facilities. The rising costs of health care provision in most if not all countries works against spending more than minimal time and effort on cleaning and sterilization procedures.
Chlorinated solutions with or without ammonia are commonly used, but have shown only limited success. To help this challenge, these solutions cannot be used in electronic devices commonly installed in hospital wards, recovery rooms, operating rooms, etc.
Vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) is extremely effective when applied to smooth surfaces, but has little or no effectiveness on porous materials and fabrics. On the other hand, VHP is very harmful to electronic devices.
Once a non-medical surface such as carpet, drapery, bedding, porous ceiling material and the like become impregnated with highly resistant pathogens, especially spore formers such as C
VWT ».rf El. · .'— .Λ. .
Difficile, I don't know
IMPIféT ·; λ msgcano institute - i can disinfect the currently available agents and processes.
Ozone is known to be a powerful antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agent. For more than
100 years, it has been used for water purification. Known to be effective against Legionella
Bacterium,
AND.
coli populations of pseudomonas in such plants.
The use of ozone in healthcare facilities is, however, problematic. Solutions containing ozone are harmful to those exposed to it, causing irritation of eyes and mucous membranes, pulmonary edema and chronic respiratory disease if safe, low levels of exposure are exceeded. On the other hand, it is widely recognized that it is an environmental risk.
Canadian Patent Application 2,486,831 Arts et al., Discloses the use of a combination of ozone and UV radiation for air decontamination in a room such as a mobile isolation unit, a hospital room and the like. Air is flushed through a portable unit containing a filter when exposed to ozone.
US Patent 7,404,624 Cumberland et al., Issued August 5, 2008, describes methods to decrease allergens, pathogens, odors, and
INSTITUTE M EX ICA N <Ϊ
FROM THE PROPERTY<sup>F</sup>and<sup>,</sup>Y<sup>STR | A</sup>us' of volatile organic compounds in an atmosphere that has specific combinations of ozone concentration, hydrogen peroxide concentrations, temperature, and humidity delivered over a specified period of time. The patent contains experimental source for treating residence rooms, to effectively treat spores of a cladosporium mold and penicillin / aspergillus molds in the room air. No details are given of the precise conditions used. There is no demonstration or description of the treatment of contaminated surfaces in a room. The general description of the patent states that the selected conditions of ozone concentration, hydrogen peroxide, humidity and temperature are highly effective in the extermination of molds and fungi in the air in ozone concentrations below 6 - 9 ppm, but it is not they disclose the precise conditions used. In general, the patent teaches the use in an atmosphere of 2 - 10 ppm of ozone, hydrogen peroxide that is 75% - 150% weight percent of the atmospheric ozone concentration, at a temperature of 15 - 27 ° C and in a time of 0.5 - 3 hours. Many of the other airborne pathogens, including bacteria, are said to be treatable by this method, but no experimental evidence is offered.
Thus, there is a need for an effective but cost-effective system to
INSTITUTO MEXICANO disinfect
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health care centers, including tndn ^ the contents therein. Such a system should drastically reduce (99.999% or greater) the amounts of at least the five bacteria already mentioned in all contaminated spaces that are of clinical and public health value. Additionally, this level of microbial decontamination must be achieved such that the space is only removed from health care use for a minimal period of time, while remaining safe and harmless with respect to electronic and other equipment in the room. Consequently, the decontamination process should not require the space in question to be emptied of its contents while the system is operating.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides, of one aspect, an ozone-based disinfection system for rooms and their contents within all medical care facilities, mobile or stationary, and other critical infrastructure such as schools and government buildings. Using this system, ozone-containing gases are supplied inside and applied to surfaces and equipment and objects contained within the room. The application can be through simple contact of the gaseous atmosphere with the surfaces, or, in the case of difficult-to-clean surfaces such as curtains, carpets and other fibrous surfaces, it can be
<td></td><td>WICKED</td>
<td>through</td><td>an eviction system j amianf ^ opi ^ S & e ^^^^^ ffla</td>
physical agitation of the surface (scrub brushes, high pressure jets, or the like, sometimes referred to herein as scrubbers). Ozone-containing gases are applied at controlled concentrations and, in some cases, at elevated pressures that have been found to be effective in destroying critical viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens found in the environment, including but not limited to the five specially bacteria. troublesome Clostridium difficile (C. difficile); AND. coli; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).
In addition to effectively eliminating aerosolized pathogens within a given space, the system of the invention also allows an operator to apply ozone-containing gases in predetermined ozone concentrations directly to problem surfaces in the room, with low physical agitation action. pressure where appropriate. The system also includes an ozone destruction unit to remove residual ozone from the room atmosphere. The entire system is portable, so it can be moved from room to room as required, and it is harmless to equipment contained in the room. Once the sterilization process is finished,
INSTITUTO M1XICA NO the room can be <sup>D</sup><img file="MX344243B_D0014.tif" /> doctor within 20 minutes, with your residual atmospheric ozone level at an acceptable 0.04 ppm or less.
BRIEF REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, arranged within a room to be disinfected;
Figures 2A and 2B are diagrammatic illustrations of physical agitation systems for use in embodiments of the invention;
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus according to the invention, in portable, transport mode;
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a test apparatus used to generate some of the later reported test results;
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the test apparatus used to generate the results reported in Example 10 below.
THE PREFERRED MODALITIES
A significant feature of the system according to certain embodiments of the invention is the ability to adjust the pressure of the ozone / oxygen gas mixture that is used for disinfection purposes. It has been
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IMPI
INSTITUTO MEXICANO • ξ LA FROFISDAC Bcciorp '^' f'®
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discovered that in many cases, the desi a room and its contents of the bacterial - co ™ -t amá nyoíon can best be achieved by pressurizing the atmosphere in the room with an ozone / oxygen mixture containing from about 10 to about 100 ppm of ozone, at a pressure greater than normal atmospheric pressure, for example from about 14.7 psi to about 100 psi. A localized pressurized air jet can also be used, which would avoid the need to increase the total pressure in the room. Increased room pressure may require initial sealing of the room before the decontamination process. With many rooms where medical procedures are conducted, such as operating rooms, there is a simple process, as these rooms are designed to be substantially sealed when in use for medical procedures. With other rooms, it may require some significant initial preparation.
Another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention uses hydrogen peroxide, as well as ozone, in the disinfection gas atmosphere. When using ozone and hydrogen peroxide, increasing the pressure inside the room may not be necessary. Particularly troublesome bacteria that are likely to cause nosocomial infections in a hospital environment,
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mainly Clostridium difficile (C.;
Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus_ (MRSA); Vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) deposit on surfaces in a hospital environment such as stainless steel surfaces, ceramic surfaces and marble surfaces and quickly form a biofilm in which microorganisms thrive. Treatment with the combination of hydrogen peroxide and ozone, in appropriate humidity, according to this preferred aspect of the invention, destroys the bacteria in the biofilm, either by chemically attacking the biofilm to expose the microorganisms to the biocidal action of the biofilm. ozone and hydrogen peroxide, or by interference of the activity of the bacterial cell in the biofilm by the combination of ozone / hydrogen peroxide used, or by a combination of these, possibly with other mechanisms.
Thus in accordance with this preferred embodiment of the present invention, of one aspect, a process is provided for combating bacteria in a closed space within a room and contained in biofilm on surfaces within the room, comprising:
create a disinfecting atmosphere in the room that includes ozone in a concentration of 2 350 ppm by weight and hydrogen peroxide in an amount of
0.2 - 10% by weight, relative humidity of
MEXICAN IMPI 'NSTITHTO by' íoiN ^ é ^ ífe
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exposing the biofilm-bearing surfaces that have live bacteria thereon to the disinfection atmosphere for a period of at least 30 minutes sufficient for effective killing of the bacteria on the micro-film;
and subsequently remove ozone from the atmosphere, below 0.04 ppm or less.
Preferably, the disinfection atmosphere has a relative humidity of at least 65%.
Another preferred embodiment provides a process for disinfecting a room and surfaces therein to combat at least one of the microorganism bacteria Clostridium difficile (C. difficile); AND. coli; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); Vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE); Bacillus subtilus, and / or anthrax, which comprises exposing the room and surfaces therein to a gaseous atmosphere that includes an effective amount of ozone and an effective amount of hydrogen peroxide, for a period of time that substantially reduces bacteria levels on surfaces, and subsequently remove residual ozone in the room atmosphere, below a low safety level.
The process is particularly effective with or without
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physical agitation, in the disinfection of stainless INDUSTRIAL, which are abundant in medical treatment centers, and on which bacteria are tenacious and difficult to destroy, due at least in part to their generation of a biofilm on such surfaces. The process is also effective in destroying and inactivating anthrax, bacteria, as evidenced by its effectiveness against the well-established anthrax substitute, Bacillus subtilis.
In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment, there is also provided a portable system for rapidly disinfecting rooms, surfaces, and equipment therein, comprising:
an ozone generator for discharging a gaseous mixture including ozone into a room;
an ozone controller adapted to control the amount of ozone discharged;
a source of hydrogen peroxide to discharge controlled amounts of hydrogen peroxide into the room;
means of discharging hydrogen peroxide and ozone in the room;
humidity adjusting means adapted to increase or decrease the relative humidity of the room during treatment;
an ozone remover adapted to destroy ozone,
<img file="MX344243B_D0021.tif" />
IMPI
INSTITUTO MÍXICanü below a safe level in the room for subsequent human use.
Sometimes it is beneficial, to increase the effectiveness and shorten the duration of the process, to operate at elevated pressure, even when using both ozone and hydrogen peroxide in the disinfection gas. Thus, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for disinfecting a room in a healthcare facility, comprising:
introducing into the room a gas mixture that includes ozone and hydrogen peroxide in effective amounts;
increase the pressure inside the room above atmospheric pressure, or introduce a stream of pressurized gas;
physically agitating fibrous and porous surfaces within the room while the surfaces are exposed to the pressurized gas stream from the atmosphere containing hydrogen peroxide and ozone of at least 60% relative humidity;
return the room to atmospheric pressure; and remove residual ozone from the room atmosphere, below a safe level.
The preferred amounts of ozone are about 20-350 parts per million in the atmosphere of
IΜ ΡI 0¾¾ treatment gas, more preferably still more preferably 20 - 90 parts per million in the oxygen / ozone gas mixture, and much more preferably 35 - 80 ppm ozone . Preferred amounts of hydrogen peroxide are amounts supplied to the room treatment atmosphere using an aqueous solution containing 0.2-10%, more preferably 1-5%, hydrogen peroxide. In the description below, the percentages of peroxide used are sometimes expressed in terms of these percentages of solution. Amounts are selected so that no serious detrimental effects are suffered by other equipment in the treatment room. The amount of hydrogen peroxide in the disinfection atmosphere can be calculated from the volume of aqueous hydrogen peroxide evaporated in the disinfection atmosphere, the volume of the room being disinfected, and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the solution. departure. The exposure times of the room and its surface to the ozone-containing atmosphere 20 are suitably from 30 minutes to about 120 minutes, preferably from about 60 to about 105 minutes, and most preferably from about 90 minutes. These times are limited to somewhere by the need to clean ozone room 25 (down from a maximum of 0.04 ppm) after the deposition phase.
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Λ
IMPI
INSTITOT · Mexican disinfection, and return the room to within a reasonable period of time, with complete sJ_tism from beginning to end not exceeding 150 minutes. Ozone removal is an extremely fast and completely effective process. Both hydrogen peroxide and ozone (and any interaction products between them) must be removed before the room is put into normal use.
Another significant feature of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is the provision of an evacuation system at the outlet end of the discharge. The evacuation system allows the penetration of the carpet, and similar surfaces to the room, to access spores and / or colonies of hidden / abducted bacteria. The evacuation system can be operated manually with operators protected by a hazard suit and mask, or remotely operated or
It can take the form of one or more associated jet pressure controls. It can take the form of fully automated.
outlet jets, with manually operable a rotating or fixed brush with appropriately stiff bristles, alone or in combination with an outlet jet. Any form of effective evacuation system can be used to disturb the pile of carpet fabrics, upholstery fabrics and the like to access remote parts that could harbor bacterial spores or colonies. This includes non-physical applications such as
<img file="MX344243B_D0023.tif" />
'NSTTniT · MEXICAN | FROM THE RUBBER Or air jets, ultrasonic energy,<sup>, NDU</sup>^ Wér radiofrequency and electromagnetic waves, by cjompLe-r-.
capable of carrying out physical alteration and which results in microphysical movements of the fibrous surfaces.
Ozone for use in the present invention can be generated by any known corona discharge generating means. In the electrical case of oxygen, the apparatus of the invention preferably includes a container of medical grade oxygen. The oxygen container may be a standard, pressurized container containing medical grade oxygen, of the type commonly found in medical facilities. The oxygen in this container is fed to an ozone generator, where the oxygen is subjected to an electrical discharge, usually with high voltage alternating current, to convert small amounts of the oxygen to ozone and produce a gaseous mixture of oxygen and ozone. The amount of ozone in the mixture is controllable by adjusting the voltage of the electric discharge. Suitable ozone generators are known and commercially available. The relative amounts of ozone generated are relatively small, expressed in parts per million (ppm), but such is the potency of ozone as a disinfectant, especially in combination with hydrogen peroxide according to this invention, that such
MEXICAN INSTITUTE
OF THE PROPERTY is required<sup>N</sup>^ 3YES<sup>TO THE</sup>my small amounts is all that
<img file="MX344243B_D0024.tif" />
Alternate forms of generation — you or no can be used if you prefer.
Ultraviolet radiation of the appropriate wavelength, incident on oxygen or air, is an acceptable alternative. In such a system, the room air can be fed into the ozone generating unit to supply the oxygen required for conversion to ozone. Other ozone generation methods that can be used include photocatalytic reactions, cold plasma, etc.
The relative humidity of the treatment space should be at least 60% and preferably at least 65%, for effective disinfection. To ensure this, it is preferred to incorporate a humidifier into the system of the invention, using sterile water from an internal system reservoir to adjust and control the humidity of the gas mixture delivery. In this way, the desirable humidity for the most effective disinfection is achieved at the point of discharge where evacuation takes place from a carpet or drapery surface. The adjustable humidifier only needs to increase the humidity of the space to a desirable level and can be placed in any location within the space. When hydrogen peroxide is used in addition to ozone, the hydrogen peroxide vapor is properly applied, in controlled amounts, to the air / water vapor that is bypassed from the humidifier and added
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in this way to the gas mixture containing ozone / oxygen. Alternatively, hydrogen peroxide can be applied to the water used to humidify the target location. Hydrogen peroxide is commercially available as aqueous solutions of standard concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. For use in the embodiments of the present invention, a standard solution of known peroxide concentration is suitably diluted by a fixed volume of distilled water. The peroxide loading is standardized based on the known volume of water in the peroxide solution required to increase the relative humidity to the desired degree, for example 40-80%. From this, the amount of hydrogen peroxide in% by volume or ppm by volume introduced into the treatment center can be calculated.
Certain systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention may include a temperature adjuster and controller for the gas mixture. This can be a simple heater / cooler through which either the incident oxygen or the generated oxygen / ozone mixture passes prior to discharge into the room atmosphere. While simple room temperature adjustment using an external room heating system and thermostat may be effective, it is preferred to adjust the temperature of the emission gas mixture, to
<img file="MX344243B_D0026.tif" />
the most effective treatment of surfaces ^ ALaS ^^^ íS ^ 'and drapery. The ideal temperature range for ozone and ozone / hydrogen peroxide decontamination of pathogens is 15 ° C to 30 ° C.
The system of the invention also includes an ozone removal unit. Such units are known, and can be purchased commercially for use in the present invention. Depending on the volume of the room atmosphere and the capacity of the ozone removal unit, more than one such unit can be incorporated into the system of the invention. Suitable ozone removal units are those based on activated carbon as the removal medium. This acts very quickly, and does not lead to the formation of dangerous reaction products. The inclusion of such units allows the treated facility to clean itself of ozone and return to normal use quickly, an important feature where healthcare facilities are involved. Other types include systems based on catalysts such as manganese oxide or other metal oxides, which can be heated to remove moisture, thermal destruction in conjunction with other metals including platinum or palladium.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a patient room surgical suite 10, sawn ready for disinfection by a process according to one embodiment of the invention. The room is substantially hermetically sealed. Inside of
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INSTITUTO MEXICANO room<sup>OF</sup>W »
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pressurized oxygen 12, which feeds oxygen gas in a humidifier 14 and consequently an ozone generator
16, which includes variable voltage electric discharge plates to adjust the amount of ozone that is generated. A heater and pressure controller (not shown) can be arranged near the inlet to the ozone generator. The outputs of the oxygen / ozone gas mixture are through outlets from room 18, 20 to the atmosphere of room 10, and through rods 22A and / or 22B to an evacuation means in the form of brushes for scrubbing 24A and 24B mounted on the outlet ends of the respective rods 22A, 22B. The heater, the pressure controller, the voltage supplied to the ozone generator 16 and the humidity level supplied by the humidifier 14 are controlled and adjusted from an external control panel 26 through the respective electrical connections 28, 30, 32 and 34. An oscillating fan 34 and an ozone destruction filter unit 36 are also arranged within the room.
Disposed within room 10 is an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution container 19 and an associated air blower 21 which, during operation, blows vaporized hydrogen peroxide in controlled amounts into the discharge wand 22A and 22B to mix the outlet. ozone / oxygen in it. The amount of hydrogen peroxide that is
<img file="MX344243B_D0028.tif" />
IMPI Mexican institute DE LA PEOFIliOAO supplies is controlled by the setting of the blower.<sup>tJST</sup>2'l<sup>L </sup> of a connection of the same to the control panel 2G. In — w. alternative arrangement, hydrogen peroxide can be supplied from generator 19 to humidifier 14.
Figs. 2Ά and 2B of the accompanying drawings show in more detail forms of dislodging means 24A and 24B for use in the present invention, attached to the discharge, outlet ends of the respective rods 22. The dislodging means 24A has a discharge nozzle. jet outlets 38A at its end, and a generally circular plate 40 mounted on rod 22A near the discharge end. The rod 22A passes through a central opening 42 in a plate 40. Plate 40 has brush bristles 46A mounted on its inner surface, arranged in two arcs around jet outlet nozzle 38A and protruding outward to a degree just beyond the outlet degree of nozzle 38A. In use, the oxygen / ozone gas mixture or the oxygen / ozone / hydrogen peroxide gas mixture is emitted from the nozzle 38A under relatively high pressure, and can be directed by the operator holding the wand to a surface area of the carpet while at the same time the operator scrubs the surface area of the carpet with the bristles 46A.
Fig. 2B shows an alternative but essentially similar arrangement, in which plate 40 is replaced
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<sup>25</sup> IMPI
INSTITUTO M & XICANO DE LA MONEDAD by a platform with wheels 4 4 that has swivel 46B and three jet outlets' 30D -'pass or · supply of oxygen / ozone / hydrogen peroxide under pressure, located forward of the rotating brushes 46B.
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings illustrates the portability of a system according to the invention. The parts are numbered as in Fig. 1. A 4-wheel cart 24 is provided, into which all component parts of the system can be loaded for easy transportation from room to room. The instrumentation and control panel can be disconnected for transportation, and reconnected and arranged outside when the apparatus is placed in another room for use as shown in Fig. 1. The cart 24 is removed while the system it is in use, but is loaded with components after use, either for transportation to another room or for storage.
The operation of the system will be readily apparent from the above description of its component parts and their interconnection. The cart 24 carrying the component parts is rolled into room 10 to be disinfected, and the parts are distributed around the room and connected together as illustrated in Fig. 1. An operator wearing a hazard suit and other appropriate protective clothing enters the room and holds the wand 22. The room is
The conditions
MEXICAN INSTITUTE of<sup>OF</sup>WWiSS | M * are set on the control panel 26, and the apparatus is turned on so that the oxygen gas / ozone / hydrogen peroxide mixture in controlled ozone concentration, hydrogen peroxide concentration, relative humidity, temperature and elevated pressure is emitted from jet nozzle 38. The operator applies the jet gas mixture to the carpet surfaces, drapery surfaces and other absorbent surfaces in the room, scrubbing the surfaces at the same time with the 46 bristles. The room is pressurized above atmospheric pressure, due to at the introduction of the oxygen / ozone gas mixture. The pressure is continuously monitored by the control panel 26 to ensure safe working conditions for the operator, as well as the temperature, humidity and ozone concentration in the room. Smooth surfaces in the room may not need the action of the flushing medium, but are satisfactorily disinfected by contact by the atmosphere in the room, especially when hydrogen peroxide and ozone are used in combination. Oscillating fan 34 is operated throughout the procedure to circulate the oxygen / ozone mixture throughout the room.
After a pre-set procedure time, and after all appropriate absorbent surfaces are scrubbed
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normally exceed 90 minutes, the delivery of peroxide - <sup>M</sup>**<sup>to</sup>.....
hydrogen (if used), oxygen supply and ozone generator are turned off. The ozone destruction filter is operated, sucking the ozone-containing gases, destroying the ozone and emitting pure oxygen from it. The room can now be opened, the appliance is unplugged and loaded onto cart 24, and the room is returned to normal use.
EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLES
Optimal and effective conditions for use in the present invention were determined using laboratory apparatus as generally illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
A single pure colony of each aerobic test bacterium, particularly E. coli; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); and Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE) were inoculated to a Columbra agar plate with 5% sheep blood. They were incubated at 35 ° C in room air for 18-24 hours. From the plate, 4-5 isolated colonies were selected and suspended in tryptic soy broth to achieve a McFarland turbidity standard of 0.5 (1.5 x 10<sup>8</sup> cfu / ml) measured using a spectrophotometer. The inoculum was prepared by making a series of serial dilutions of 0.9 ml of broth
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x 10 times) to give solutions of 10 10 '<sup>2</sup>, -iQ--<sub>r</sub> 10~<sup>5</sup>,
10’<sup>6</sup> and 10 '<sup>7</sup> cfu / mL.
The organisms were plated in triplicate, 0.1 ml of each solution spread over the surface of the Columbra sheep blood agar plates. Two sets of plates (12 plates per organism) were subjected to preselected ozone concentrations (ppm), humidity and temperature conditions in the illustrated apparatus. The other sets of 2 were treated as controls, without ozone exposure, but kept at room temperature.
For ozone exposure, the apparatus generally illustrated in Fig. 4 was used.
The test plates were mounted within a disinfection chamber 60, the upstream end 62 of which had an ozone inlet port 64, a hydrogen peroxide vapor inlet port 65 (which was blocked in Examples 1 -9 described below), and a water vapor inlet port 66. A pressurized medical grade oxygen cylinder 68 was provided, which feeds oxygen to an ozone generator 70, equipped with AC electric plates to which variable voltage could be supplied through the input control 72. The gas output oxygen / ozone mixing of the generator
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MWICAN INSTITUTE of ozone 70 was fed to the inlet hole 66. The disinfection chamber 60 also contained water vapor 74. A hnmidificadnr Ha steam 74 supplied water vapor to the inlet hole 66. The disinfection chamber 60 also contained a heater / cooler (not shown), a temperature sensor
76, a pressure sensor 78, a humidity sensor 80 and an ozone sensor 82, electrically connected through respective lines 84, 86, 88 and 90 to a control panel and monitor 92, connected to power the oxygen cylinder 68 to control the flow of the pressure setting purpose, to the ozone generator 70 to control and adjust the amount of ozone, to the steam humidifier 74 to control and adjust the relative humidity in the disinfection chamber 60, and to the heater / cooler to control and adjust the temperature in the chamber. These parameters are preset
<td>they adjusted in</td><td>control panel</td><td>to</td><td>values</td><td>desired and</td><td>I know</td>
<td>they readjusted</td><td colspan="2">automatically to these</td><td>values</td><td>according</td><td>the</td>
<td>experiments</td><td>progressed.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>A</td><td>destruction filter</td><td>of</td><td>ozone 94</td><td>He is online</td><td>to the</td>
downstream end 96 of disinfection chamber 60 at outlet port 98, to destroy ozone emitted from chamber 60 at the end of the experiment. The gases were circulated within chamber 60, and expelled from the very termination of the experiment, using a fan 100 mounted therein. After the placement of the
<img file="MX344243B_D0032.tif" />
test plates in chamber 60, seal each experiment.
Control plates and ozone treated plates were placed in an incubator at the same time. Plate counts were read through a microscope, and the numbers of colony forming units on each plate were counted. The spores are aerotolerant.
EXAMPLE 1
A series of tests as described above were conducted on MRSA ATCC 33592. The boxes carrying microorganisms were exposed in the chamber to a mixed oxygen / ozone atmosphere containing 80 ppm of ozone, for 90 minutes at 20 ° C and 85% relative humidity. Duplicate test plates were run. Aliquots of 10 pL volume washed from the plates were serially diluted with inoculum, to final dilution factors ΙΟ '<sup>2</sup>, 10”<sup>3</sup>, ΙΟ "<sup>4</sup>, 10<sup>-5</sup>, 10<sup>6</sup> and 10 '<sup>7</sup>. Control plates, not subjected to ozone exposure, were prepared, and plates were incubated for 24 hours as described. The surfaces of the agar plates were eluted to remove bacterial colonies, and the eluates were plated for examination under a microscope.
Counting the active breeding colonies of bacteria in the eluted compositions under a microscope revealed that the eluates from the plates of
WICKED
INSTITUTO MEXICANO .1 control in 10 'dilutions<sup>2</sup>, had duplicates), and no cfus from mayar-di 1uction plates, while the experimental ozone-exposed plates produced compositions that did not exhibit cfus at any of the dilutions tested. A reduction of 3.35 log (8.3 log to 4.9 log) was achieved.
EXAMPLE 2
The experiment of Example 1 was repeated using the same bacterial strain, but exposing the test plates in chamber a. 50 ppm of ozone in oxygen, at 20 ° C and 80% relative humidity.
The count of the reproductive, active colonies of bacteria in the eluate compositions, under a
<td colspan="2">microscope revealed</td><td>what</td><td>the</td><td>eluates of</td><td>Plates</td>
<td>control</td><td>in dilutions</td><td> 10‘<sup>2</sup>,</td><td>He had</td><td> 374, 415, 414</td><td>and 423 cfus</td>
<td>(plates</td><td>quadrupled)</td><td> , 33,</td><td> 35,</td><td>38 and 37 cfus of</td><td>the plates</td>
control in dilutions 10<sup>3</sup>, they had 4, 1, 2 and 2 cfus in dilution 10 ~<sup>4</sup> and without cfus in higher dilutions. Those of the eluates from the treated plates revealed 27, 11, 42 and 58 active cfus in 10 'dilutions.<sup>2</sup>, 3, 1, 3 and 5 cfus in dilution 10 '<sup>3</sup> (quadruple plates), and without cfus of the higher dilution plates.
EXAMPLE 3
The experiment of Example 1 was repeated, except for use as a test organism P. aeruginosa ATCC
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27853.
MEXICAN INSTITUTE \ _ -,. .DELA ΠΙΟΙΊΟΑΟ.
The same ozone exposure, dilution, incubation and test conditions were used, the test plates, the active colony counts of 11 and 18 were found in the 10 dilution<sup>2</sup>, the active colony counts of 5 and 27 were found at the 10 ″ dilution<sup>3</sup>. At higher dilutions, there were no detectable colonies. In contrast, the non-ozone-exposed control plates showed colonies too numerous to count, at all dilutions up to and including 10<sup>-6</sup>. A 2.8 log reduction (7.9 log to 5.1 log) was achieved.
EXAMPLE 4
The experiment of Example 3 was repeated, using the same test organism, but treating the test samples in the chamber with an ozone / oxygen gas mixture containing 50 ppm of ozone, in 80% humidity, for 90 minutes. For the same recovery and test procedures, it was determined that the control plates had too numerous cfus to count. Test plates, run in duplicate, had cfu counts of 212 and 183 at dilution 10<sup>2</sup>; counts of 13 and 50 at dilution 10<sup>3</sup>; and without cfus in higher dilutions.
EXAMPLE 5
The experiment of Example 3 was repeated but using Enterrococcus faecalis Clinical Strain (high level vancomycin resistant) 80269 as the test organism, with 90 minute exposure
<img file="MX344243B_D0034.tif" />
ppm ozone, at 21 ° C and 80% relative humidity. The eluates from the control plates (duplicates) had cfu counts too high to count at the 10 'dilution.<sup>2</sup>, 10”<sup>3</sup> and 10 "<sup>4</sup>; cfu count of 402 and 346 at the 10 ~ dilution<sup>5</sup>;
cfu counts of 35 and 25 at the 10 ~ dilution<sup>6</sup>; and cfu counts of y at the 10 ”dilution<sup>7</sup>. In contrast, eluates from test plates (duplicates) gave cfu counts of 78 and at dilution 10<sup>-2</sup>; cfu counts of 47 and 6 at dilution<sup>3</sup>; 112 and 50 in the 10 'dilution<sup>4</sup>; cfu counts of 0 and 1 at dilution 10<sup>5</sup>; cfu counts of 1 and 0 at dilution 10<sup>6</sup>;
and cfu counts of 0 and 1 at dilution 10<sup>7</sup>. A reduction of 2.95 log (7.7 log to 4.7 log) was achieved.
EXAMPLE 6
The experiment of Example 5 was repeated using the same VRE Clinical Strain as the test organism, but with a 90 minute exposure to the 50 ppm ozone ozone / oxygen mixture, at 20 ° C and 80% relative humidity. The eluates from the control plates (duplicates) had cfu counts too high to count at the ΙΟ dilution.<sup>-2</sup>, 10‘<sup>3</sup> and 10<sup>4</sup>; cfu counts of 369 and 359 at the 10 "dilution<sup>5</sup>; cfu counts of 46 and 46 at the 10 ”dilution<sup>s</sup>; and cfu counts of 9 and 2 at the 10 ″ dilution<sup>7</sup>. In contrast, eluates from test plates (duplicates) gave cfu counts of 50 at the 10 ″ dilution.<sup>2</sup>; cfu counts of less than 30 in dilution
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TMPI * ~, - ^ τυτο MEXICANO I look MEXICAN ί ~, - ^ 'ΤυΤΟ MEXICAN Ί; and cfu counts of 0 in dilutions may ^^ god '
EXAMPLE 7
The experiment of Example 3 was repeated but using E. Coli Strain ATCC 25922 as the test organism, with exposure of 90 minutes to the ozone / oxygen mixture of 35 ppm ozone, at 21 ° C and 80% humidity. relative. The eluates from the control plates (duplicates) had cfu counts too high to count at the 10 dilution.<sup>-2</sup>, 10<sup>-3</sup> and 10 "<sup>4</sup>; cfu counts of greater than 300 at the 10 'dilution<sup>5</sup>; cfu counts of 95 and 66 at the 10 'dilution<sup>6</sup>; and cfu counts of 3 and 10 at the 10 'dilution<sup>7</sup>. In contrast, eluates from test plates (duplicates) gave cfu counts of 43 and 38 at the 10 dilution.<sup>2</sup>; cfu counts of 25 and 1 at the 10 ”dilution<sup>3</sup>; 6 and 15 at dilution 104; cfu counts of 3 and 10 at dilution 10<sup>5</sup>; and cfu counts of 0 at higher dilutions.
A reduction of 3.22 log (7.8 log to 4.6 log) was achieved.
EXAMPLE 8
The experiment of Example 7 was repeated using the same E. Coli Strain ATCC 25922 as the test organism, but with a 90 minute exposure to the ozone / oxygen mixture of 50 ppm ozone, at 20 ° C and 80% relative humidity. The eluates from the control plates (duplicates) had cfu counts too high to count in the
<img file="MX344243B_D0036.tif" />
dilution ΙΟ<sup>2</sup>, 10’<sup>3</sup> and 10 <sup>4</sup>; 56'9f cfu counts<sup>JS1</sup>^<sup>TO THE</sup>35 dilution 10 "<sup>5</sup>; cfu counts of and cfu counts of and 7 in the eluates of the cfu counts of 13 and 28 in plates of 8 and 7 in the 10 dilution<sup>3</sup>;
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INSTITUT M®UCANO
BE LA PR PI3DAP
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4 and 87 in dilution — 10 dilution 10 “<sup>7</sup>. In contrast, test dilution counts of (duplicates)
10<sup>2</sup>; cfu counts of gave cfu at the 10 ~ dilution<sup>4</sup>; and 0 in all others, higher dilutions.
EXAMPLE 9
A strain of
C.
difficile (non-toxigenic clinical strain # 135,
Queens
University Medical School, Kingston,
Ontario, Canada) was also used as a test organism, but due to well-known difficulties with the development of C. difficile strains (anaerobic condition requirements, for example), a preparatory method was adopted in some different ways.
The C. difficile strain was seeded on 12-20 pre-reduced Brucella blood agar plates and incubated anaerobically for 48 hours at 35 ° C. Each plate was flushed with 5 ml of sterile distilled water and the bacterial colonies were lightly scraped from the agar surface with a sterile plastic bacteriological loop. The resulting bacterial suspension was mixed and allowed to settle at room temperature in a sealed tube for 20 minutes to allow osmotic lysis of vegetative forms of bacteria. The bacterial suspension was centrifuged at 3,000
<img file="MX344243B_D0038.tif" />
x gravity for 20 minutes for spores and remaining bacterial cells. The> oobrcnadantc was removed and the pellet was resuspended in 5-7 milliliters of sterile distilled water and mixed to resuspend the spores and remaining bacterial cells. The above steps were repeated three times to produce a pellet consisting of C. difficile spores. To kill any remaining vegetative bacteria, the final suspension was placed in a heating block at 70 ° C for 20 minutes. The spores were stored in 100% ethanol at 4 ° C. This preparation produced approximately 1.5 x 105 cfu / ml of spores. Gram staining of the spore preparation confirmed that the suspension consists of spores with very few vegetative cells.
Serial 10-fold dilutions of the spore suspension in sterile 0.85% NaCl were conducted as previously described, and then inoculation was conducted by spreading 0.1 ml of each dilution onto the surface of BAK agar plates. The yield of C. difficile spores was approximately 6 x 10<sup>4</sup> -2 x 10<sup>6</sup> cfu / ml. Some plates were exposed to ozone in the illustrated apparatus as previously described, others were kept as controls.
The test plates were given a 90 minute exposure to the ozone / oxygen mixture of 35 ppm ozone, at
21 ° C and 80% relative humidity 'MPI' -O MEXICAN. Incubation-'aurísisfe for 48 hours under control plates
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anaerobic conditions. T.ns the born ός (duplicates) had cfu counts of
113 and 50 in dilution
10~<sup>2</sup> and 10 and 10 at dilution 10<sup>-3</sup>;
whereas eluates from the test plates did not show cfus at any dilution tested.
A reduction of 4 log (4 log to zero) was achieved.
EXAMPLE 10
Experiments conducted to stimulate the problems commonly faced in most modern hospitals related to the decontamination of textiles such as carpets and curtains had clearly demonstrated the superior efficiency of direct pressurized air flow over a more static gaseous environment. An apparatus as diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying was used.
A camera
100, closed while the experiments were in progress, contained near one end of a 102 structure that supports a layer (disk)
104 of the fibrous curtain material (sterile cotton gauze), impregnated with MRSA and dried to form a biofilm. The ozone-rich atmosphere was fed into the chamber. An electric fan
106 with rotating blades
108 3 cm of the gauze was arranged to blow the gases into the chamber through the gauze at high speed, to cause physical agitation of the gauze. A disc
110 that contains
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INSTITUTO MEXICANO exposed<sup>OF</sup> a similarly impregnated gauze,
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near the other end of chamber 100, so that it was exposed to essentially static atmosphere in the chamber. A control gauze, which was similarly impregnated but received no treatment, was also evaluated.
The results are reported in Table 1 below. In Table 1, columns A, B, C and D are the results in 10-fold serial dilutions, obtained by the standard procedure. The results measured on the gauzes subjected to physical agitation are recorded as direct. Those on the gasses in the essentially static atmosphere are recorded as indirect.
In all cases, the combination of 80 ppm ozone and 1% H2O2 at 80% relative humidity with an exposure time of 30 minutes proved superior to all other combinations including 1% H2O2 without ozone and ppm ozone without
H2O2. In these experiments the methodology used with respect to microbiological procedures was the same as that described above for other experiments.
Therefore it has been concluded that in order to achieve a bacterial extermination of
6-7 log hospital environments where carpets and other textiles are commonly found, an ozone / H202 pressure applicator or physical shaker is essential. Based on proven experiments and other research, increasing improvement in bacterial kill
MEXICAN INSTITUTE that SESA ^^^ efe
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through a pressure applicator is on the order of 2 logs (100-1000 x greater).
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Test bacteria, mainly Clostridium
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difficile (C. difficile);
E. coli;
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE
PseudUmX
<img file="MX344243B_D0044.tif" />
(PAU); Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); Vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE); were prepared as described for the previous experiments (see Example 1 for the preparation of aerobic bacteria, Example for the preparation of C.
difficile).
Bacillus subtilis (the substitute for anthrax) was prepared analogously for the C. difficile preparation, the bacteria were grown on agar plates except from Columbra sheep blood incubated for 18-24 hours in room air at 35 ° C. They were grown separately on plates for 24 hours. From the plate, 4-5 isolated colonies were selected, and suspended in NaCl 0.85 to achieve a McFarland turbidity standard of 0-5 (1.5 x 10<sup>8</sup> cfu / ml) measured using a spectrophotometer. The inoculum was prepared by making a series of serial dilutions of 0.9 ml of NaCl 0.85 broth with 0.1 ml of original McFarland 0.5 inoculum (6x10 times) to give 10 'solutions<sup>1</sup> ΙΟ '<sup>2</sup>, ΙΟ "<sup>3</sup>, 10”<sup>4</sup>, 10~<sup>5</sup>, 10<sup>6</sup> and 10 '<sup>7</sup> cfu / mL. Organisms were plated in triplicate, as previously described, 0.1 ml of each solution is spread on the surface of Columbia Sheep Blood Agar (relative to aerobic bacteria) or Brucella anaerobic blood agar plates (relative to aerobic bacteria). to
C. difficile and B. subtilis) on plates, or on stainless steel plates. On the agar, the bacteria maintain the
IMPI steel, “βϊο®
Mrogifeas plantonic mode. The plates contain the forms of bacteria.
For the experiments on steel plates, 40 microliters of the original inoculum as prepared in the above were placed on the surface of a series of 1 cm diameter stainless steel discs. These were allowed to dry in a biological safety cabinet for approximately 45 minutes until the inoculum stains were dry. The steel discs were placed in a sterile Petri dish to facilitate their transfer to the test chamber. Once dry, the lid of the Petri dish was placed over the disks, and they were carefully transferred to the treatment location where they were exposed to the ozone test conditions. Appropriate numbers of discs
<td>of control are left</td><td>covered</td><td>in</td><td>The gabinet</td><td>of</td><td>security</td>
<td>biological, and I don't know</td><td>expose to</td><td>the</td><td>terms</td><td>of</td><td>test</td>
<td>ozone.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>Some of</td><td>the plates</td><td>I know</td><td>subjected to</td><td>the</td><td>exposition</td>
ozone / oxygen using 80 ppm ozone, 42-80% humidity and ambient temperature of about 22 ° C, for a period of 90 minutes, in the illustrated apparatus, as controls. Additional controls were not treated with ozone or hydrogen peroxide, but were prepared and exposed in the same way.
With reference to Fig. 4, the test plates are
<img file="MX344243B_D0045.tif" />
<img file="MX344243B_D0046.tif" />
rode inside the chamber of
MEXICAN INSTITUTE
DE LA PROHEDAD,, _ industrial disinfection
<img file="MX344243B_D0047.tif" />
60, and were treated with ozone and water vapor as previously described but additionally using hydrogen peroxide supplied as a vapor to the chamber through the orifice.
65. The disinfection chamber also contained the same heater / cooler system and sensors previously described.
Plates treated in accordance with the invention were exposed to 80 ppm ozone and hydrogen peroxide gas from a 1% or 3% aqueous solution, air being blown through the aqueous solution in the illustrated apparatus to create the hydrogen peroxide gas. Other conditions and exposure times remain the same.
Immediately after exposure to the test conditions, and similarly for the unexposed control discs, the stainless steel discs were mixed vigorously in 10 ml of sterile 0.85% saline, using a high speed vortex mixer for 60 seconds to elute all surviving viable bacteria or spores. The eluted suspension, containing both live and dead bacteria, is serially diluted 10-fold in sterile 0.85% saline and the diluted bacteria are plated quantitatively on Columbra Sheep Blood Agar plates for aerobic bacteria or plates of Brucella Anaerobic Blood Agar for <sup>43</sup> IMPI
MEXICAN HSTITUTE
DS LA ηθΝΕ · ΛΟ!%> C. difficile, incubated under * ΐΡ [# ϊΦρ i ¿retag-r ^ conditions in triplicate to determine the original conceurbrepeiéft —- 4 · ^ -¡r. ^ r-nin. Surviving colony counts were logarithmically transformed and geometric mean calculated. The difference between the bacterial counts of the unexposed controls and the exposed test discs produced the log reduction in bacteria under the test conditions. If this procedure does not result in growth, 100% of the bacteria within the biofilm have been killed by exposure to ozone / hydrogen peroxide.
Post-challenge agar plates were cultured in an incubator for 24 hours. The plates were then stained, examined through a microscope, and the numbers of colony forming units were counted on each plate.
The results are reported in Table 2 below as 10-fold reductions in live bacteria on the agar plate or steel plate, compared to the starting plate before any exposure. Thus a value of 1 means a 10-fold reduction or a relative log with the control samples that is not considered a significant effect. A value of 5 was achieved which means a reduction of 5 log or 99.999% in live bacteria, enough to be called complete disinfection, to <sup>44</sup> Mexican nsTrruiO 3¾ practical purposes. A value of b ^ ig-ue was achieved 95g®tn! Rca a reduction of 6 log or 99.9999% in har <-ariag wjvas that is defined internationally (CDC) as sterilization. Bacterial strains were as reported in previous experiments. Bacillus subtilis were ATCC 19659 spores.
TABLE 2
<td>Bacteria</td><td>Ozone only</td><td>80 ppm</td><td>H<sub>2</sub>OR<sub>2</sub></td><td>3% only</td><td>80 ppm Ozone + 1% off</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>H2O2</td>
<td></td><td>Agar</td><td>Steel</td><td>agar</td><td>steel</td><td>steel</td>
<td>C.</td><td> 4.5</td><td> 2.5-3.0</td><td> 1.5</td><td> 1.00</td><td> 6.5 +</td>
<td>difficile</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>MRSA</td><td> 4.5</td><td> 5.0</td><td> 1.5</td><td> 1.5</td><td> 7.0 +</td>
<td>E. coli</td><td> 4.0</td><td> 3.5</td><td> 2.0</td><td> 1.0</td><td> 7.0</td>
<td>VRE</td><td> 4.5</td><td> 3.5</td><td> 1.0</td><td> 1.0</td><td> 6.5</td>
<td>PAU</td><td> 4.0</td><td> 3.0</td><td> 2.0</td><td> 0.5</td><td> 7.0</td>
<td>Bacillus</td><td></td><td></td><td> 1.0</td><td> 1.0</td><td> 7.0 +</td>
<td>Sub</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>EXAMPLE 12</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>The</td><td>Boards</td><td> 3, 4,</td><td> 5, 6, 7</td><td colspan="2">and 8 below</td>
<td>provide</td><td colspan="3">a summary of experiments,</td><td>through</td><td>which the</td>
<td>combinations</td><td>ozone</td><td>r H2O2,</td><td>humidity and</td><td>time of</td><td>exposition</td>
were evaluated in terms of the ability to kill the following bacteria when artificially applied as on stainless surfaces: E. coli;
subtilis (the substitute (C. difficile);
Staphylococcus aureus
<img file="MX344243B_D0048.tif" />
a steel disc biofilm (PAU); Bacillus
Clostridium difficile
Vancomycin (VRE); Y
Methicillin (MRSA), same strains
Steel discs
IMPI no "pgETO'SSS
INDUSTRIAL
Pseudomonas aeruginosa for anthrax). resistant to resistant to as above.
test plates and the plates were exposed and subjected in the previous Example, with those shown in the tables to test agar prepared, tested as the exposure conditions are described below. In some cases, indicated as camera, tests were conducted as described in Example 10 and with apparatus as generally illustrated in Fig. 4. In other cases indicated as room, the tests were conducted by exposing the discs and plates in a closed room, as generally illustrated in Fig. 1.
The tables below the results also report a period after exposure (PEEP), in minutes, which is the time interval between the termination of the ozone / peroxide exposure and the start of the procedure to determine the results. This stimulates actual practice in disinfection of hospital rooms and similar environments, where bacteria, after disinfection treatment, die over a period of time. To allow this, it is preferred that at least
IMPI
INSTITUTO MEXICANO minutes must elapse from
<img file="MX344243B_D0049.tif" />
ozone / hydrogen peroxide exposure ends before sanitized room is put into normal service.
Table 3 - E. Coli
<img file="MX344243B_D0050.tif" />
Table 4 - Pseudo
<img file="MX344243B_D0051.tif" />
Table 5 - Bacillus Subtilis
<td></td><td colspan="14"><sup>40</sup> T Ά í Tfe g</td><td rowspan="3"></td>
<td>• 4 A</td><td rowspan="8">Bac.llus subtilis</td><td>Log10 NET</td><td> 0.5</td><td> 0.1</td><td> 7.23</td><td>or</td><td> 7.23</td><td> 7.23</td><td> 4.61</td><td>LJ JfiCTH <£> 0</td><td>vr UfOA ^ '<sup>N</sup></td><td>Γ</td><td> 1 $ 4$</td><td></td>
<td rowspan="2"></td><td rowspan="2">Cam. /Bedroom</td><td rowspan="2">Camera</td><td rowspan="2">Camera</td><td rowspan="2">Camera</td><td rowspan="2">Camera</td><td rowspan="2">Camera</td><td rowspan="2">Camera</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>Camera</td><td>Camera</td><td>Camera i</td><td>Bedroom</td><td>Bedroom</td><td>Bedroom</td><td rowspan="9"></td>
<td>β Sj</td><td>or. UJ LO OR.</td><td> 06</td><td>or</td><td>or</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 90</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06 |</td><td> 06</td><td>or</td>
<td>LL</td><td>Exp.</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 90</td><td> 06</td>
<td><sup>AND</sup> 1</td><td>% of Humidity</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td><td> 80-85</td>
<td>Q.</td><td>% H2O2</td><td> 0.5</td><td> -</td><td>co</td><td>co</td><td>co</td><td> -</td><td> -</td><td> -</td><td> -</td><td> -</td><td>co</td><td>co</td>
<td>or</td><td>S oo CO O</td><td> 80</td><td> 80</td><td> 80</td><td>or</td><td> 80</td><td> 08</td><td> 08</td><td> 80</td><td> 08</td><td> 08</td><td>OR 00</td><td> 08</td>
<td>m Spa</td><td rowspan="2"></td><td>Material</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td>
<td><sup>:/</sup>·</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td> - .</td><td>r * * 7</td><td>* Λ. ·.</td><td>CO</td><td>r></td><td>'irt'</td><td>u></td><td>h-</td><td> 00</td><td>σ></td><td>O '</td><td></td><td> 12-</td><td>co</td><td> 14</td>
<td>* r</td><td></td><td>tT</td>
<td>CO</td><td>co</td><td>co</td>
<td>CO</td><td>co</td><td>co</td>
<td>CU</td><td>CU</td><td>is</td>
<td>ro</td><td>ro</td><td>cu</td>
<td>fc</td><td>F</td><td>F</td>
<td>CU</td><td>CU</td><td>CU</td>
<td>or</td><td>or</td><td>or</td>
<td>or</td><td>or</td><td></td>
<td>in</td><td>in</td><td></td>
<td>or</td><td>or</td><td>n</td>
<td>σ></td><td>in</td><td>σ></td>
<td>IT</td><td>m</td><td>go></td>
<td>co</td><td> 00</td><td> 00</td>
<td>or</td><td>or</td><td>or</td>
<td> 00</td><td>co</td><td> 00</td>
<td> -</td><td> 00</td><td>co</td>
<td>or</td><td>or</td><td>or</td>
<td> 00</td><td>co</td><td> 03</td>
<td> 2</td><td>or</td><td>g</td>
<td>Φ</td><td> 0)</td><td><D</td>
<td>or</td><td>or</td><td>OR</td>
<td> <</td><td> <</td><td> <</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td>
<img file="MX344243B_D0052.tif" />
INDIJSTKIAl
<img file="MX344243B_D0053.tif" />
Table 6 - C. Diff.
<img file="MX344243B_D0054.tif" />
<td> 29</td><td>CM Γ-</td><td>ιη Γ</td><td>σ></td><td>σ></td><td>σ></td>
<td> >-</td><td><ό</td><td>ιη</td><td>Ι <</td><td>Ι <</td><td>r <</td>
<td></td><td></td><td>C</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td></td><td></td><td>Ό</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td><π</td><td> 2</td><td>Ο</td><td> 00</td><td> 2</td><td> 2</td>
<td> «5</td><td> (0</td><td> 05 •4—</td><td> 05</td><td> (0</td><td> 05</td>
<td>Ε</td><td>Ε</td><td>η</td><td>Ε</td><td>h</td><td>t</td>
<td> '05</td><td> '05</td><td> 05</td><td>Ό5</td><td>Ό5</td><td>Ό5</td>
<td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>X</td><td>ο</td><td>Q</td><td>or</td>
<td>I 06</td><td> 06</td><td> 06</td><td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>or</td>
<td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>m</td><td>ο</td><td>or</td>
<td>σ></td><td>σ></td><td> 05</td><td></td><td>ΙΟ</td><td> 05</td>
<td>ιη</td><td>ιη</td><td>ιη</td><td>ιη</td><td>ιη</td><td>ITEM)</td>
<td> 00</td><td> 00</td><td>οο</td><td> 00</td><td> 00</td><td>CO</td>
<td>ό</td><td>ό</td><td>ό</td><td>ό</td><td>ό</td><td>ό</td>
<td> 00</td><td> 00</td><td>CO</td><td> 00</td><td> 00</td><td>CO</td>
<td rowspan="2">C0</td><td>ΙΟ</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>ό</td><td></td><td>Τ "</td><td></td><td></td>
<td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>OR</td>
<td>ιη</td><td> 00</td><td>οο</td><td>οο</td><td> 00</td><td>co</td>
<td>Ο</td><td> 9</td><td>Ο</td><td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>or</td>
<td>φ</td><td>φ</td><td><υ</td><td>φ</td><td>φ</td><td>Φ</td>
<td>ο</td><td>ω</td><td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>ο</td><td>Q</td>
<td> <</td><td> <</td><td> <</td><td> <</td><td> <</td><td> <</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td></td><td>4Ó<sup>1</sup></td><td></td><td>b-</td><td>οο '</td><td>C>.</td>
<td>, -τ ^ \</td><td>V ·? -</td><td> : </td><td>τ * - *</td><td>τ</td><td></td>
TMPI '·' I 'UTO MHKICANO'> Γ! .Α rROHIDAD 'NDUSTRIAI
<img file="MX344243B_D0055.tif" />
<img file="MX344243B_D0056.tif" />
to go!.:
Table 7 - VRE
<img file="MX344243B_D0057.tif" />
<td><0 or</td><td>OO o</td><td>OO</td><td> 00</td><td rowspan="2"> 5.8</td><td> 00</td>
<td>IT</td><td>CD</td><td>ΙΌ</td><td>IT</td><td>IT</td>
<td>c</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>or</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>or</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>ro</td><td>co</td><td>CD</td><td>CO</td><td>CU</td><td>AND</td>
<td> £></td><td>ro</td><td>(OR</td><td>co</td><td>co</td><td>CD</td>
<td>co</td><td>AND</td><td>AND</td><td>AND</td><td>AND</td><td>AND</td>
<td>T</td><td>'CO</td><td>'CO</td><td> ‘(0</td><td>co</td><td>•CD</td>
<td></td><td>or</td><td>or</td><td>ω</td><td>or</td><td>or</td>
<td>or</td><td>or</td><td>or</td><td>or</td><td>or</td><td>or</td>
<td>IT</td><td>or</td><td>IT</td><td>IT</td><td>IT</td><td>or</td>
<td></td><td><D</td><td>CM</td><td>co</td><td>τΓ</td><td>CD</td>
<td> 10</td><td>IT</td><td>IT</td><td>in</td><td>IT</td><td>IT</td>
<td> 00</td><td> 00</td><td> 00</td><td> 00</td><td>CO</td><td> 00</td>
<td>OR</td><td>ό</td><td> ¿</td><td>ό</td><td>ό</td><td>OR</td>
<td> 00</td><td>co</td><td>OO</td><td> 00</td><td>OO</td><td> 00</td>
<td> -</td><td>r—</td><td>v-</td><td>T ~</td><td></td><td> -</td>
<td>or</td><td>or</td><td>or</td><td>or</td><td>or</td><td>OR</td>
<td> 00</td><td>co</td><td> 00</td><td> 00</td><td> 00</td><td>OO</td>
<td> 2</td><td> 2</td><td> 2</td><td> 2</td><td>p</td><td>or</td>
<td>φ</td><td>Cl)</td><td>φ</td><td>φ</td><td>Φ</td><td>Φ</td>
<td>OR</td><td>OR</td><td>OR</td><td>OR</td><td>Q</td><td>Q</td>
<td> <</td><td> <</td><td> <</td><td> <</td><td> <</td><td> <</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td> >4·</td><td>Ifí</td><td>co</td><td>b-</td><td> 00</td><td></td>
<td>V ~ ·. ··</td><td>V *</td><td>r</td><td>r-</td><td>T-</td><td></td>
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE
OF THE PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL
<img file="MX344243B_D0058.tif" />
INSIIIUI ΜΕΧίυΐΝΙΙ »E The« OHE) A | 1
NBWST J-Mrj
<img file="MX344243B_D0059.tif" />
<img file="MX344243B_D0060.tif" />
<img file="MX344243B_D0061.tif" />
<img file="MX344243B_D0062.tif" />
<td> 7.37</td><td> 7.37</td><td colspan="2"> 7.37</td>
<td>Camera</td><td>Camera</td><td colspan="2">Camera</td>
<td>or</td><td>or</td><td colspan="2">or</td>
<td> 30</td><td> 09</td><td colspan="2"> 06</td>
<td> 80</td><td>or 00</td><td colspan="2"> 80</td>
<td>co</td><td>co</td><td colspan="2">co</td>
<td>or 00</td><td>or 00</td><td colspan="2"> 08</td>
<td>Steel</td><td>Steel</td><td colspan="2">Steel</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td></td><td colspan="2"></td><td></td>
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX344243B_D0063.tif" />
Discoveries with s
subtilis clearly indicate that 80 ppm - ^ rono / 1% in 80% relative humidity produces a 6 log (+) reduction when these aerobic spores are exposed for 90 minutes. Given the uniqueness of these bacteria and the fact that they are routinely used as a surrogate for anthrax, the above combination of treatment parameters makes this device highly effective in a bioterrorism countermeasures scenario.
The findings regarding Pseudomonas aeruginosa definitely show that 80 ppm ozone, 1% H2O2 in 80% relative humidity with a 25 minute exposure time produces a 100% kill (7 + logs). The same findings were observed when biofilms from E. coli samples on stainless steel discs were exposed for 25 minutes to a combination of 80 ppm ozone, H<sub>2</sub>OR<sub>2</sub> at 1% in 80% relative humidity.
With respect to Clostridium difficile and Vancomycin resistant Enterrococcus, the same combination of 80 ppm ozone, H<sub>2</sub>OR<sub>2</sub> at 1% in 80% relative humidity proved highly effective in achieving 100% elimination of bacteria in biofilms placed on a stainless steel surface and exposed for 45 minutes.
The results summarized in Table 8 above
<img file="MX344243B_D0064.tif" />
INSTITUTO MEXICANO clearly show that the same combinationiNaá ^ RufeCNÍ: ^^ ¿'§e ozone, H2O2 at 1% in 80% humidity achieves 100% kill (6 + log reduction) when MRSA biofilms were exposed for 30 minutes.
Conclution
The data provided in the above Tables clearly shows that the process according to the invention is capable of completely eliminating bacteria contained within biofilm preparations on a non-porous hardened surface such as stainless steel. Although small adjustments in exposure time are necessary for common pathogens found in hospital settings (25-45 minutes), Bacillus subtilis and therefore its cousin anthrax require almost twice the exposure time, but these pathogens are of little concern to hospitals.
Thus, one aspect of the invention is a process for disinfecting a room, which comprises introducing an oxygen gas / ozone mixture into the room, increasing the pressure inside the room above atmospheric pressure, physically agitating the fibrous surfaces and porous inside the room while surfaces are exposed to ozone-containing atmosphere of at least 65% relative humidity, return the room to atmospheric pressure and remove residual ozone from the room atmosphere
IMPI xsrnvro MEIICAN · OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX344243B_D0065.tif" />
below a maximum level of 0.04 ppm.
Another aspect of the invention is a portable system for disinfecting rooms and surfaces therein with ozone, comprising an oxygen container, an ozone generator fed with medical grade oxygen from the oxygen container, and discharging a mixture of oxygen and ozone, and an ozone controller adapted to control the proportion of ozone in the oxygen-ozone mixture, a discharge tube 10 for receiving the oxygen-ozone mixture from the ozone generator, the discharge tube having an outlet end, a physical agitation system at the outlet end of the discharge tube, for physical agitation of surfaces with oxygen / ozone mixture emitted from it, means for adjusting the pressure connected to the generator of ozone arranged to adjust the pressure of the oxygen / ozone mixture discharged by the physical agitation system and the pressure of oxygen / ozone gas in the room under treatment, temperature adjusting means connected to the ozone generator arranged to adjust the temperature of the oxygen / ozone mixture discharged by the physical agitation system, humidity adjusting means adapted to humidify the treatment location to a relative humidity of not less than 65%, and an ozone scavenger adapted 25 to receive the oxygen / ozone mixture from the environment
ΙΜΡΙ
NST1TUT0 MEXICANO of the use of the discharge tube and to remove «<img file="MX344243B_D0066.tif" />™ βιίζο
<img file="MX344243B_D0067.tif" />
mixture.
Contents51
74 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4 Sheet 5 Sheet 6 Sheet 7 Sheet 8 Sheet 9 Sheet 10 Sheet 11 Sheet 12 Sheet 13 Sheet 14 Sheet 15 Sheet 16 Sheet 17 Sheet 18 Sheet 19 Sheet 20 Sheet 21 Sheet 22 Sheet 23 Sheet 24 Sheet 25 Sheet 26 Sheet 27 Sheet 28 Sheet 29 Sheet 30 Sheet 31 Sheet 32 Sheet 33 Sheet 34 Sheet 35 Sheet 36 Sheet 37 Sheet 38 Sheet 39 Sheet 40 Sheet 41 Sheet 42 Sheet 43 Sheet 44 Sheet 45 Sheet 46 Sheet 47 Sheet 48 Sheet 49 Sheet 50 Sheet 51 Sheet 52 Sheet 53 Sheet 54 Sheet 55 Sheet 56 Sheet 57 Sheet 58 Sheet 59 Sheet 60 Sheet 61 Sheet 62 Sheet 63 Sheet 64 Sheet 65 Sheet 66 Sheet 67 Sheet 68 Sheet 69 Sheet 70 Sheet 71 Sheet 72 Sheet 73 Sheet 74
29 members in 12 offices
Priority claims5
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61223219 | United States of America | – | |
| 22321909 | United States of America | P | |
| 61295851 | United States of America | – | |
| 29585110 | United States of America | P | |
| 2010000998 | Canada | W |
Members29
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2735739A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| WO2011003179A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| CA2785850A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| WO2011085466A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| CA2735739C | Canada | C | |
| SG176977A1 | Singapore | A1 | |
| KR20120035206A | Republic of Korea | A | |
| US2012100037A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| EP2451489A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| CN102481383A | China | A | |
| MX2012000302A | Mexico | A | |
| EP2525838A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| JP2012531979A | Japan | A | |
| US2012315188A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| HK1178468A1 | Hong Kong, China | A1 | |
| US8551399B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US8636951B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US2014037499A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| EP2451489A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| EP2525838A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| WO2015048903A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| IN963DEN2012A | India | A | |
| CN102481383B | China | B | |
| EP2525838B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| EP2451489B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| MX344243BThis record | Mexico | B | |
| US9616145B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| BR112012000384A2 | Brazil | A2 | |
| BR112012000384B1 | Brazil | B1 |
1 legal event, as the office reported them to INPADOC
Events
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Grant or registrationFG | FG |
Numbers
- Publication
- 344243
- Application
- 302
Titles2
- Spanish
- PROCESO Y SISTEMA DE DESINFECCION DE CENTROS DE ATENCION MEDICA CON MEZCLA DE OXIGENO/OZONO.
- English
- PROCESS AND DISINFECTION SYSTEM OF MEDICAL CARE CENTERS WITH OXYGEN / OZONE MIXTURE.
Classification
- CPC, 6
- A61L2/202
- A61L2/208
- A61L2202/11
- A61L2202/13
- A61L2202/14
- A61L2103/75
- IPC, 1
- A61L2 20