Impact of DHP® Technology on Environmental Bioburden Reduction in a Long-term Care Facility
Published June 2023 in the American Journal of Infection Control
Description: Between November 2022 and January 2023, a study using DHP® Technology was conducted in the 15-bed Neurobehavioral Unit of a long-term care facility in Rochester, NY, to assess the effectiveness of DHP® in reducing environmental bioburden on surfaces in occupied rooms. DHP® devices were installed in eight occupied patient rooms, the common area, and the dining area. Baseline environmental sampling was collected on three dates prior to DHP® deployment and again on three dates (study days 14, 28, and 55) post-deployment with a total of 264 surface samples collected. Volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements were also collected on all sampling dates to further assess DHP® impact on overall air quality. There were no other changes to the facility’s environmental cleaning and disinfection practices throughout the study period.
Key Takeaways:
- The use of DHP® was associated with a statistically significant reduction in surface bioburden in the Neurobehavioral Unit (p=<0.00001).
- The average bacterial colony-forming unit (CFU) count decreased by 61.6% on Day 14, 86.6% on Day 28, and 89.8% on Day 55.
- The use of DHP® was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the average VOC level in the Neurobehavioral Unit (p=0.0031).
- The average VOC level decreased by 76.1% on Day 14, 91.5% on Day 28, and 98.6% on Day 55.
- Although infection rates were not tracked as part of this study, the facility noted that an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Neurobehavioral Unit, in which residents are less compliant with infection control measures, was notably milder and shorter than on the adjacent long-term care unit in which DHP® was not deployed. Specifically, the attack rate in the Neurobehavioral Unit was 40% over seven days versus 70% over three weeks in the long-term care unit in which residents were compliant with infection control measures.
- The facility’s Infection Preventionist observed that the use of DHP® resulted in lower resource utilization (i.e. skilled nursing and medical provider care for outbreak investigation and management).
