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Evaluation of a Dry Fogging System for Laboratory Decontamination

Dry fogging is a relatively new decontamination technology that uses liquid disinfectant and compressed air as consumables. The ultrafine droplet size of the dry fog prevents it from easily falling onto surfaces, a desirable quality for space/area decontaminations. Liquid peracetic acid (PAA) has been shown to have excellent microbicidal activity; however, it has compatibility issues with a variety of materials. The objectives of this study were to determine the microbicidal activity, compatibility to electronic equipment, decontamination potential for laboratories, and mold remediation potential for a walk-in cooler of the dry fogging system (DFS) using PAA. Stainless steel coupons spiked with a select number of microbial agents (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus atrophaeus spores, Vesicular stomatitis virus, and Human adenovirus 5) were exposed to the dry fog to determine its microbicidal activity. Decontaminations of a simulated laboratory and high-containment laboratories were validated using commercially available biological indicators placed at several locations within the area. Compatibility to electronic equipment was assessed by repeatedly exposing personal computers to the dry fog over a 6-month period. All test microbial agents were inactivated by the dry fog; laboratory decontamination and mold remediation validations were successful. No functional impairment was detected in the personal computers following six rounds of exposure. Results show that the DFS is an effective decontamination technology for laboratories as an alternative to formaldehyde, vaporous hydrogen peroxide, or gaseous chlorine dioxide (GCD).