新型消毒工藝可以有效地對抗醫(yī)院內的感染性微生物，包括耐甲氧西林金黃色葡萄球菌。

獲得的噴霧過氧化氫(VHP)工藝是由Steris有限公司(Basingstoke, UK)開發(fā)的。它已經被用于消毒醫(yī)院病房、隔離室、手術室以及運輸工具。當前的研究正在評估VHP殺滅嚴重急性呼吸綜合征（SARSS）以及其它病毒的效率，在德國地研究業(yè)已證實它能夠有效殺滅導致結合的細菌。《柳葉刀》2004年8月7日的一篇報道指出：獨特的干燥VHP程序能夠滅活導致Creutzfeld-Jakob病和瘋牛病的朊病毒。這項工藝正在為許多制藥企業(yè)和研究實驗室提供無菌環(huán)境，還被兩家美國聯邦大樓用于清除炭疽污染。

這項工藝使用低溫干燥噴霧過程，已經被證明對致病微生物和細菌芽孢高度有效。滅菌過程使用的濃度對環(huán)境無害、非致癌、無腐蝕性，而且不會遺留任何毒性殘余物。與其它許多抗微生物藥物不同，這種氣體分解為無毒性的副產物水和氧氣。

Queen Mary醫(yī)學院John Oxford教授評論說：“看起來這種工藝能夠有效對付各種病毒包括流感和SARS病毒。與Steris公司合作開展使用VHP工藝殺滅流感和SARS病毒的試驗即將在幾天后進行。”
 
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New decontamination technology is effective against infectious organisms in hospitals, including methecillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The patented vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) technology was developed by Steris Ltd. (Basingstoke, UK). It has been used to decontaminate hospital wards, isolation rooms, operating theaters, and transfer vehicles. Current research is evaluating VHP’s efficacy against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and other viruses, while research in Germany has confirmed its effectiveness against the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. A report in the August 7, 2004, issue of The Lancet noted that the unique dry VHP process can inactivate prions that cause Creutzfeld-Jakob disease and mad cow disease. The technology is providing a sterile environment in many pharmaceutical facilities and research laboratories, and has also been used to remediate anthrax contamination in two U.S. federal buildings.

The technology uses a low-temperature, dry vapor process proven to be highly effective against pathogenic organisms and bacterial spores. The process is environmentally friendly, noncarcinogenic, noncorrosive at use concentrations, and does not leave any toxic residues. Unlike many other antimicrobials, the vapor breaks down into the nontoxic by-products of water vapor and oxygen.

“It looks very interesting for tackling a range of viruses, including influenza and SARS,” commented Professsor John Oxford, of Queen Mary’s Medical School (London, UK). “Working with Steris we will be commencing trials for using VHP technology to eradicate influenza and SARS in a matter of days.”