title: Terminal decontamination of the Royal Free London's high-level isolation unit after a case of Ebola virus disease using hydrogen peroxide vapor.
abstract: We report the decontamination of the high-level isolation unit at the Royal Free London after the discharge of a patient with Ebola virus disease, who was repatriated from West Africa. Hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) was used to decontaminate the patient care isolators and the rooms housing them. HPV decontamination was completed without incident and allowed the unit to be returned to service more quickly than the previous protocol of using formaldehyde.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Infection and Diagnostics Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, King's College London & Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Bioquell UK, Andover, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Otter
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mepham
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Breda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Athan
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: susanhopkins@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hopkins
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008131:London; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000592:standards; D010357:Patient Isolators / Q000592:standards*; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: Contamination; Decontamination; Ebola; Hydrogen peroxide vapor