Saturated steam vapor disinfection vs chemical disinfectants
A diverse assortment of pathogenic microorganisms was rapidly killed by the steam disinfection system; all of the pathogens tested were completely inactivated within 5 seconds.
Efficacy of steam vapor disinfection systems in a hospital setting
The steam vapor device consistently reduced total microbial and pathogen loads on hospital surfaces, to below detection in most instances. Treatment reduced the presence of total coliforms on surfaces from 83% (40/48) to 13% (6/48).
Steam vapor for disinfecting biofilms on environmental surfaces
Compared with chemical disinfection, steam treatment for <1 second a similar level of biofilm disinfection as provided by incubation with 10-ppm sodium hypochlorite (bleach) for 10-20 minutes of contact time.
| Bacteria | Complete Disinfection | >99.5% Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds* |
| VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis) | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds |
| Acinetobacter baumannii | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds |
| Salmonella enterica | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds |
| E. coli | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds |
| Shigella flexneri | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds |
| Listeria monocytogenes | 7 Seconds | Data unavailable |
| Clostridium difficile (Endospores) | 5 Seconds† | Data unavailable |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae (NDM-1 Strain) | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds |
| Virus | Contact Time | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Norovirus (Feline Calicivirus) | 7 Seconds | >99.99% Reduction‡ |
| Canine Parvovirus | 7 Seconds | >99.99% Reduction‡ |
| Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) H9N2 | 7 Seconds | >99.99% Reduction |
| Human coronavirus 229E | 3 Seconds | ≥99.94% Reduction |
| MS2 Virus (Non-enveloped “Indicator” Virus) | 2 Seconds | >99.99% Reduction |
| Fungi | Complete Disinfection | >99.5% Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| Candida albicans | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds |
| Aspergillus niger | 5 Seconds | 2 seconds |
| Tricophyton mentagrophytes | 5 Seconds | Data unavailable |
Data generated by three leading independent laboratories; reports available below.
*Starting concentration of >8.5 million MRSA on contaminated surface
†Starting concentration of >100 C. difficile endospores on contaminated surface.
‡Reduced to limit of detection.
Demonstrated efficacy at leading microbiological and analytical testing laboratories
Testing Antimicrobial Action on Hard Surfaces: describes the procedures for determining the efficacy of a steam vapor device tested against 10 representative challenge organisms. The procedure was designed to test the kill rate when applied to contaminated hard porous surfaces and is based on the AOAC Official Method 961.02 Germicidal Spray Products…18 pages. Nelson Labs, No 274841, Nov 2004
Condensed Summary showing results for Steam Vapor Device used on inoculated hard porous surfaces, at three different exposures times: 7 sec, 10 sec and 30 sec for each organism tested. Nelson Lab Report No. 274841, Nov 2004
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Virucidal Effectiveness against Norwalk and Norwalk like viruses on unglazed clay test coupons; two time points of 7 and 10 seconds. MICROBIOTEST Proj # 567-102, June 2006
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Virucidal Effectiveness against Canine parvovirus on unglazed clay test coupons at a single time point of 7 seconds. MICROBIOTEST Proj # 567-105, Dec 2006
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Virucidal Effectiveness against Avian influenza on unglazed clay test coupons at a single time point of 7 seconds. MICROBIOTEST Proj # 567-106, Dec 2006
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Efficacy at Ultra-Low Contact Times of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5 seconds, using 6 challenge organisms plus virus surrogate MS2. ATL, PT 513, July 2007
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Efficacy at Ultra-Low Contact Times of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5 seconds using MRSA and VRE contaminated coupons, data and kill time chart. ATL PT507, Aug 2007
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Efficacy against C. difficile endospore on unglazed clay coupons at time points of 5, 10 and 30 seconds. ATL PT506, Sep 2007
Qualitative Comparison Study of 4 Disinfection Technologies, including Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS and common hospital grade disinfectants, 5 pages. ATL PT508, Sep 2007
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Efficacy at Ultra-Low Contact Times of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5 seconds for 8 organisms including MRSA and VRE, with time kill-curve generation, 3 pages. ATL PT505, Oct 2007
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Efficacy at Ultra-Low Contact Times of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5 seconds against Shigella and E. coli. ATL PT504, Oct 2007
N11: Quantitative Comparison Study of 4 Disinfection Technologies including Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS, 5 second dwell time, 4 pages. ATL PT509, Sep 2007
Results for Efficacy using Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS applying 5 intermittent contacts of 1 second each to inoculated test surface to replicate ordinary ‘cleaning motion’, 3 organisms. ATL PT502, Nov 2007
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Efficacy at Ultra-Low Contact Times of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5 seconds against A. baumannii on hard, porous, unglazed clay coupons, with data and time kill-curve. ATL SOP C-005, July 2008
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Efficacy at Ultra-Low Contact Times of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 seconds against K. pneumoniae NDM-1 (aka CRKP) on hard, porous, unglazed clay coupons, with Data table and Quantitative graph, 5 pages. ATL NG2478-A3, Feb 2011
Testing Steam Vapor Device w/TANCS for Efficacy at Ultra-Low Contact Times of 3.0 and 5.0 seconds against Human coronavirus, 229E on hard, porous, unglazed clay coupons, with Data table and Study photos, 7 pages. ATL NG4423, Aug 2013
