January Webinar: Facility Management: A Potential New Role in Active Infection Control

Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/26/2023
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Please join HCC for the January Webinar!

Watch Recording HERE

Speaker: Dr. med. Dr. rer.nat. Dirk Boecker

Indoors, pathogen-carrying aerosol particles are recognized as important infection carriers like those in the current Corona pandemic. Yet this infection route is often underestimated and has been least systematically countered to date. Current indoor safety measures (e.g.: distancing, masks, filters) provide only limited protection. Inhalation of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) containing aerosols was recently shown in several studies to be safe and effective in prevention and even in reduction of symptoms of already infected individuals. We investigated a novel air-disinfection concept utilizing the potential of vaporized HOCl for populated facilities. Aerosolized bacterial microbes were used as surrogates for a viral contamination, particularly the enveloped coronavirus. We demonstrated the high efficacy of vaporized HOCl to deactivate airborne pathogens at safe and non-irritant levels. Incorporating this air-disinfection technology into building ventilation systems could be a valuable contribution for future infection prevention and control. It may take facility management to a new level of providing environmental safety.

Learning Objectives:

1. Role of aerogen driven infection pathways
2. Issues and shortcomings of current infection protection methods
3. Highlight the 2 roles of HOCl – innate immune response agent and powerful disinfectant
4. Provide and understanding how the new method can be implemented