title: Bacteria killing nanotechnology Bio-Kil effectively reduces bacterial burden in intensive care units.
abstract: A contaminated hospital environment has been identified as an important reservoir of pathogens causing healthcare-associated infections. This study is to evaluate the efficacy of bacteria killing nanotechnology Bio-Kil on reducing bacterial counts in an intensive care unit (ICU). Two single-bed rooms (S-19 and S-20) in the ICU were selected from 7 April to 27 May 2011. Ten sets of new textiles (pillow cases, bed sheets, duvet cover, and patient clothing) used by patients in the two single-bed rooms were provided by the sponsors. In the room S-20, the 10 sets of new textiles were washed with Bio-Kil; the room walls, ceiling, and air-conditioning filters were treated with Bio-Kil; and the surfaces of instruments (respirator, telephone, and computer) were covered with Bio-Kil-embedded silicon pads. Room S-19 served as the control. We compared the bacterial count on textiles and environment surfaces as well as air samples between the two rooms. A total of 1,364 samples from 22 different sites in each room were collected. The mean bacterial count on textiles and environmental surfaces in room S-20 was significantly lower than that in room S-19 (10.4 vs 49.6 colony-forming units [CFU]/100 cm(2); P < 0.001). Room S-20 had lower bacterial counts in air samples than room S-19 (33.4-37.6 vs 21.6-25.7 CFU/hour/plate; P < 0.001). The density of microbial isolations was significantly greater among patients admitted to room S-19 than those to room S-20 (9.15 vs 5.88 isolates per 100 patient-days, P < 0.05). Bio-Kil can significantly reduce bacterial burden in the environment of the ICU.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: P-R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: H-C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: T-G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: C-S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: M-Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*