(than with other methods of disinfection)."
Ozone
As another mobile solution to disinfection, some machines
convert oxygen from the air in the room into ozone, which is a
highly effective oxidant that kills microorganisms and removes pol-
lutants from the air and on surfaces. After the ozone reacts with
harmful pathogens and other microorganisms, it is converted back
into breathable oxygen, leaving no harmful by-products of the
process behind.
There's no chemical residue to this process, and the machines use
only water and electricity to disinfect, so they're relatively cheap to
use. To properly disinfect the room, the machine must be left inside
for a predetermined amount of time. After the process is complete,
the room can be opened within a short time-frame.
As with all systems, there are disadvantages to using ozone as a
whole-room disinfectant. Ozone is actually toxic — it can cause respi-
ratory symptoms, even at low levels, and you have to make sure your
room is completely clear of ozone before you reopen it. It's also a
potent oxidizer, which means that it can easily corrode metals. Ozone
also has limited microbicidal efficacy; it's not effective against many
types of microbial organisms.
Human touch
Technology is making whole-room disinfection easier every day. By
taking the human element out of the disinfection process, you'll have
a greater likelihood of achieving disinfection.
OSM
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 6 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 8 1
Ms. Handzel (sarah@catbirdwriting.com) is a freelance writer and a registered
nurse based in Raleigh, N.C.
