Case study - NUDCH
Case study - NUDCH, National Institute of Childhood Diseases in Bratislava
Subject of the contract:
NUDCH’s requirement was to create an automated system that would assist in the primary disinfection processes of defined operating theatres within the hospital premises. The reason for awarding the contract was the presence and difficulty of eliminating various pathogens in the air of the operating theatres, reducing their cultivation, reducing dustiness and generally increasing the cleanliness of the operating theatres and ensuring a sterile air environment.
The scope of installation included two floors of three operating theatres each, namely three theatres on -1 floor and three theatres on -2 floor of the hospital. NUDCH required that the system mustn´t damage, degrade, or otherwise diminish the value of the equipment, instruments, and components of the operating rooms in order to make the system as simple and practical to operate as possible.
Great emphasis was placed on the security, stability and reliability of the system and prompt and accessible service when needed. At the same time, it was important to ensure a good overview of the disinfection consumption and to ensure that the quantity was monitored or that an alarm was set up to indicate the need to replenish the disinfection solution.
Solution:
We created two separate HYDROfogg® systems, one for each floor. One HYDROfogg® system controls three operating theatres on “its” floor.
Each operating theatre contains special HYDROfogg® nozzles in adequate numbers according to the characteristics of its own space to achieve the disinfection process in 2 minutes of real time, as required by NUDCH.
Control of the system is provided via a secure WiFi router paired with the individual components and controls of the main HYDROfogg® system. The user himself, after training, controls the HYDROfogg® via the supplied SMART Android device with the control application installed.
The system includes several modules such as the Module – Disinfection Vessel Level Alarm with Notifier, which provides information to designated users about the need for refilling and subsequently about the refilling of disinfection medium in the disinfection tank.
Additional modules provide automation and separate controllability of each separate operating room, individually or simultaneously.
The system is equipped with an anti-drip module, which provides an important aspect to prevent the so-called “tearing” or dripping of the individual nozzles. This module is connected to the automatic valve module to reduce the excess pressure in the system.The individual piping, pipes and connections are routed at approximately 2.7 m above the ground, near the ceiling of each operating theatre, and are fixed into the walls by special mounts with a shock-absorbing damper. The angle and location of the nozzles was calculated on the basis of the location of the equipment and furnishings of the individual operating theatres separately within each theatre.
Results of the solution provided:
Based on the testing and evaluation of the results achieved after the application of the HYDROfogg® systems, NUDCH stated that all the specified requirements were met.
HYDROfogg® ensured the sterility of the operating room environment, which it permanently maintains. Practical tests carried out by NUDCH confirmed the sustainability of the sterile environment for about 14 days after the last disinfection process was carried out by the HYDROfogg® system. This information was confirmed by a test in which one operating theatre was left un-disinfected for two weeks, after which samples were taken which showed extremely low levels of common micro-organisms which started to appear 14 days after the last start-up.
The individual tested soils of the other operating rooms that were disinfected on a daily basis remained sterile, the test results confirmed the absence of any pathogens in the air and HVAC after sampling.
NUDCH staff who perform the disinfection processes and ensure sterilization of the operating room areas noted perceptually better air quality in the areas with significantly reduced dust particles.
The system was evaluated as a significant, superior improvement in the quality of cleanliness of operating rooms and was recommended as a secondary form of operating room disinfection by NUDCH staff.
NUDCH staff did not observe any damage to the equipment and instruments that are part of the operating room equipment.