Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The applications of fumigation and the challenges that high-containment facilities face in achieving effective large volume decontamination are well understood. The Biosecurity Research Institute at Kansas State University sought to evaluate a novel system within their biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) and animal biosafety level 3 agriculture (ABSL-3Ag) facility. METHODS: The system chosen for this study is the CURIS(®) Hybrid Hydrogen Peroxide(TM) (HHP(TM)) system, comprising a mobile 36-pound (16 kg) device delivering a proprietary 7% hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) solution. To examine the system's efficacy in multiple laboratory settings, two BSL-3 laboratories (2,281 [65 m(3)] and 4,668 ft(3) [132 m(3)]) with dropped ceiling interstitial spaces and an ABSL-3Ag necropsy suite (44,212 ft(3) [1,252 m(3)]) with 21-foot (6.4 m) ceilings were selected. Biological indicators (BIs) of Geobacillus stearothermophilus (1.7 × 10(6) organisms) on steel spore carriers and H(2)O(2) chemical indicators (CIs) were used to provide validation. RESULTS: After cycle optimization, the smaller laboratory had a total of 60 BIs over two treatments that demonstrated a greater than 6-log reduction of bacterial spores. The larger laboratory (192 BIs) and the necropsy suite (206 BIs) had no BIs positive for spore growth when incubated at 60°C for 24 h per manufacturer's specifications. CONCLUSION: Overall successful results through multiple components of this study demonstrate that the HHP device, paired with the pulsed 7% H(2)O(2) solution, achieved efficacy regardless of variables in laboratory size and layout. Perceived challenges such as 21-ft (6.4 m) ceiling heights, active equipment, and difficult to access ceiling interstitial spaces proved unfounded. Given the successful sterilization of all challenged BIs, the HHP system presents a useful alternative for high level decontamination within BSL-3 and ABSL-3Ag facilities.