Virox Authored Articles

Peer Reviewed Documents
Industry Trade Magazines

Peer Reviewed Documents

Theoretical and Experimental Aspects of Microbicidal Activities of Hard Surface Disinfectants: Are Their Label Claims Based on Testing Under Field Conditions? (432 KB): DR. NAVID OMIDBAKHSH: JOURNAL OF AOAC INTERNATIONAL VOL. 93, NO. 6, 2010
Although such surfaces are routinely disinfected, the testing and label claims of many common disinfectants do not reflect the realities of field use. A study was conducted to determine the influence of several crucial factors on the action of disinfectants in general, and to assess the killing efficiency of selected chemistries related to their drying times and label-specified contact times using a quantitative carrier test.
Excerpt:“AHP, alcohol-containing quats, and quat-phenolic-alcohol gave acceptable wettability, while quat and phenolic alone, as well as bleach, covered the treated surface unevenly. The findings show that label claims, especially those for contact times, fail to reflect the way many hard-surface disinfectants are used in the field.” pg. 1
Role of hospital surfaces in the transmission of emerging health careassociated pathogens: Norovirus, Clostridium difficile, and Acinetobacter species (147 KB): David J. Weber, MD, MPH,a,b William A. Rutala, PhD, MPH,a,b Melissa B. Miller, PhD,c,d Kirk Huslage, RN, BSN, MSPH,b and Emily Sickbert-Bennett, MSb
Weber, DJ et al. (2010) Role of hospital surfaces in the transmission of emerging health care associated pathogens: Norovirus, Clostridium difficile and Acinetobacter species. AJIC 2010;38(Suppl 1):S25-S33. This article focuses on the role of surface contamination in the transmission of 3 emerging nosocomial pathogens: norovirus, C difficile, and Acinetobacter spp and literature supporting the use of EPA registered disinfectants for helping to control environmental transmission.
Theoretical and Experimental Aspects of Microbicidal Activities of Hard Surface Disinfectants: Are Their Label Claims Based on Testing Under Field Conditions?: NAVID OMIDBAKHSH, JOURNAL OF AOAC INTERNATIONAL VOL. 93, NO. 6, 2010
High-touch environmental surfaces are important in the spread of many nosocomial pathogens. Although such surfaces are routinely disinfected, the testing and label claims of many common disinfectants do not reflect the realities of field use. A study was conducted to determine the influence of several crucial factors on the action of disinfectants in general, and to assess the killing efficiency of selected chemistries against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, related to their dr
Excerpt:“With the increasing recognition of the role of high-touch environmental surfaces in the spread of many types of nosocomial pathogens (19), manufacturers and regulators must ensure that only the most effective and safest products are put on the market to be applied by end-users with ease and confidence against pathogens that are amenable to environmental control. Any success in meeting this laudable objective must begin with an immediate, thorough, and unbiased re-evaluation of how environmental surface disinfectants are tested for label claims, as well as the regulatory process which grants them permission for sale.”
Improved eradication of Clostridium difficile spores from toilets of hospitalized patients using an accelerated hydrogen peroxide as the cleaning agent. (301 KB): BMC Infectious Diseases September 2010: Michelle J Alfa, Evelyn Lo, Alana Wald, Christine Dueck, Pat DeGagne and Godfrey KM Harding
C. difficle spores in the environment of patients with C. difficile associated disease (CDAD) are difficult to eliminate. Bleach (5000 ppm) has been advocated as an effective disinfectant for the environmental surfaces of patients with CDAD. Few alternatives to bleach for non-outbreak conditions have been evaluated in controlled healthcare studies.
Excerpt:“Our data indicate that the AHP formulation evaluated that has some sporicidal activity was significantly better than the currently used SHP formulation. This AHP formulation provides a one-step process that significantly lowers the C. difficile spore level in toilets during non-outbreak conditions without the workplace safety concerns associated with 5000 ppm bleach.”
Role of hospital surfaces in the transmission of emerging health care associated pathogens: Norovirus, Clostridium difficile, and Acinetobacter species (147 KB): David J. Weber, William A. Rutala, Melissa B. Miller, Kirk Huslage, and Emily Sickbert-Bennett
Excerpt:“Health care-associated infections (HAI) remain a major cause of patient morbidity and mortality. Although the main source of nosocomial pathogens is likely the patient’s endogenous flora, an estimated 20% to 40% of HAI have been attributed to cross infection via the hands of health care personnel, who have become contaminated from direct contact with the patient or indirectly by touching contaminated environmental surfaces.”
Disinfection: The Critical Step in Aquaculture and Intensive Farming (83 KB): Jean de Barbeyrac, Axcentive
Cleaning and disinfection play a major role in today’s farming and aquaculture. A safe and reliable disinfectant is of major importance to ensure healthy animals and safe food.
Excerpt:“Some active ingredients are not only used as disinfectants but also have a positive effect on health status if used as a fish treatment. Hydrogen peroxide for fungicidal effect and chloramine-T for external bacterial infections are two of these products known to be helpful in cases of infection.”
Identification by Quantitative Carrier Test of Surrogate Spore-Forming Bacteria To Assess Sporicidal Chemicals for Use against Bacillus anthracis (766 KB): Miles R. Majcher, Kathryn A. Bernard, and Syed A. Sattar
The spores of six strains of Bacillus anthracis (four virulent and two avirulent) were compared with those of four other types of spore-forming bacteria for their resistance to four liquid chemical sporicides (sodium hypochlorite at 5,000 ppm available chlorine, 70,000 ppm accelerated H2O2, 1,000 ppm chlorine dioxide, and3,000 ppm peracetic acid).
Excerpt:“The sporicidal activity of a given formulation is only one among a set of features to be considered in dealing with any decontamination scenario. Human and environmental safety, as well as materials compatibility, are among the other factors to keep in mind. Though bleach is fast acting, inexpensive, and generally readily available, its main drawbacks are off-gassing inactivation in the presence of organic loads and high corrosivity. In contrast, AHP-based formulations are reasonably fast acting and also have much-higher materials compatibility, while being less toxic to humans and the environment (8).”
Evaluation of sporicidal activities of selected environmental surface disinfectants: Carrier tests with the spores of Clostridium difficile and its surrogates (227 KB): Navid Omidbakhsh, BSc
1. Evaluation of sporicidal activities of selected environmental surface disinfectants: Carrier tests with the spores of Clostridium difficile and its surrogates, Navid Omidbakhsh (2010) AJIC Vol 38, No 9, p. 718-722. Available and fast-acting sporicides are generally corrosive and unsafe for both humans and the environment. The objective of the study was to compare a newly developed AHP-based Surface Sporicidal Agent that carries superior occupational health and compatibility profiles with to
Enhancing Patient Safety through the Management of Clostridium difficile at Toronto East General Hospital (319 KB): Healthcare Quarterly, 9(Sp) 2006: 50-53 Arladeen Tomiczek, C. Stumpo and James F. Downey
In 2005 Toronto East General Hospital experienced a steady increase in the number of C. difficile cases diagnosed within the hospital. This was identified as a patient safety issue, and several areas of the hospital came together to address the problem. Pharmacy immediately started a medication review of past cases. Environmental services took the lead on the environmental cleaning, and a process was put into place with Infection Control so that housekeeping knew of every room that contained a p
Efficacy of Two Hydrogen Peroxide Teat Disinfectants Against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae (76 KB): K. E. Leslie,1 E. Vernooy, A. Bashiri, and R. T. Dingwell
An experimental teat dip containing 0.5% hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient was compared with a teat disinfectant also containing 0.5% hydrogen peroxide that is commercially available throughout North America.
Excerpt:“These findings suggest that the test teat disinfectant provided germicidal activity similar to that of the positive control teat disinfectant. Average teat skin condition scores were significantly improved when the experimental disinfectant was applied over the 10-wk study period.” pg. 6
An Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide-Based Fast-Acting and Reusable Microbicide for Manual Disinfection of Heat-Sensitive Semi-Critical Medical Devices (983 KB): Navid Omidbakhsh, B.Sc., Nicole Kenny, B.Sc., Assoc Chem
The focus of this study was to assess the antimicrobial activity, stability and materials compatibility of a newly-developed AHP-based high level disinfectant in simulated reuse conditions.
Excerpt:“The AHP-based formulation evaluated here remained a broad-spectrum and fast acting microbicide even after 14 days of simulated reuse.” pg. 5
Hydrotherapy Tub Usage (Infection Risks - Cleaning and Disinfecting) (1.76 MB): Bernice Thompson, R.N., B.N., E.T. and Scott Budgell, B.Sc., CPHI(C)
Excerpt:“after weeks of trialing various products and making comparisons with other chemical disinfectants, opted for the use of an Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide compound. This product has been found to have advantages over other chemical cleaners and disinfectants in a number of areas including disinfection capabilities, efficiency in cleaning and cost effectiveness.” pg. 9
Products Based on Accelerated and Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide: Evidence for Cleaning and Sanitizing Efficiency, Environmental and Human Safety and Non-Corrosiveness (1.52 MB): Michael Rochon and Nancy Sullivan
Products sold under Virox 5, Percept, Accel, Peroxigard
Combined application of simulated reuse and quantitative carrier tests to assess high-level disinfection: experiments with an accelerated hydrogen peroxide-based formulation (151 KB): Syed A. Sattar, Ph.D. Professor of Microbiology Centre for Research in Environmental Microbiology (CREM) Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.
Excerpt:“AHP product (sold under Accel CS 20) represents an alternative to glutaraldehyde with enhanced material compatibility and demonstrates broad-spectrum germicidal activity of a high-level disinfectant subjected 14 days of reuse”
A Product based on accelerated and stabilized hydrogen peroxide: Evidence for broad-spectrum germicidal activity (406 KB): Syed A. Sattar, PhD and V. Susan Springthorpe, M.Sc.
Excerpt:“Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP) contains ingredients which are considered safe for humans & benign to the environment. This product has superior cleaning power and increased germicidal potency and has numerous potential applications where cleanup & disinfection are crucial. The product diluted at 1:16 can be used as a general purpose disinfectant (products sold under Virox 5, Percept, Accel, Peroxigard)” pg. 6 & 7
Activity of selected oxidizing microbicides against the spores of Clostridium difficile: Relevances to Environmental Control (172 KB): Syed A. Sattar, Ph.D. Professor of Microbiology Centre for Research in Environmental Microbiology (CREM) Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Excerpt:“AHP-based technology has been gaining acceptance as a means of formulating safer and environmentally benign microbicides with activity against major classes of nosocomial pathogens. Virox STF could inactivate C difficile spores on hard environmental surfaces in approximately 10-15 minutes under ambient conditions (product sold under Accel CS 20)" ” pg. 5
Broad-spectrum microbial activity, toxicologic assessment, and materials compatibility of a new generation of accelerated hydrogen peroxide-based environmental surface disinfectant (117 KB): N. Omidbakhsh, B.Sc, Virox Technologies Inc.
Excerpt:“Accel TB (also sold under Oxivir TB, Optim 33TB, Carpe Diem TB) showed a high safety and materials compatibility profile in addition to being a fast acting, intermediate-level disinfectant” pg. 1
A new peroxide-based flexible endoscope-compatible high-level disinfectant (94 KB): N. Omidbakhsh, B.Sc, Virox Technologies Inc.
Excerpt:“AHP-based high-level disinfectant (Accel HLD 5) proved to be a broad spectrum microbicide, fast acting and safer to end users and the environment and is considered compatible with flexible endoscope” pg. 6
Is skin irritancy of the hand wash products solely related to their pH? (1.52 MB): P. Grasha, PhD, Deb Group, N. Omidbakhsh, B.Sc, Virox Technologies
Excerpt:“pH must not be the only criteria used to predict the potentially irritant character of a cosmetic preparation. Other ingredients used in the formulation have intrinsic irritating power independent of pH such as chemical structure or concentration” pg. 5

Industry Trade Magazines

How to Select an Ideal Disinfectant: Lee Nesbitt, BMSc
Excerpt:“With the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), etc. and more virulent strains of well-known pathogens such as Clostridium difficile, the utilization of appropriate disinfectant products has become exceedingly important.”
Surfactants - The truth behind their toxicity, their ability to cause chemical resistance and their use in cleaning products (1.98 MB): Navid Omidbakhsh & Nicole Kenny, Virox Technologies Inc.
Industry Published Article
Excerpt:“Anionics are the largest class of surfactants in terms of volume, and include the work-horse surfactants, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), alcohol sulphate (AS) and alcohol ether (or ethoxy) sulphate (AES). Soap is also considered as anionic surfactant. These surfactants have strong detergent but weak antimicrobialproperties, except in high concentrations.” pg. 1
Myths & Facts About Infection Prevention (3.37 MB): Nicole Kenny, Virox Technologies Inc. CM Cleaning & Maintenance Management
Industry Published Article
Excerpt:“The following list of myths and facts will highlight why the cleaning industry needs to spend more time focusing on infection control and disinfectant product selection.” pg. 1
How to Simplify Your Environmental Surfaces Cleaning Program: Infection Control Today, June 30 2006
Excerpt:“An emerging technology designed for cleaning and disinfection is making the job of healthcare environmental services more efficient, safer, and more responsible. Accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP™) technology allows for all-in-one capability to achieve excellent cleaning efficiencies without having to change products for different cleaning tasks or surface types. Not only does AHP™ technology allow for fewer SKUs, the product has been proven to be safer and has a reduced environmental load.”
A Norwalk Nightmare (298 KB): Sanitation Canada
Disinfection begins with proper selection: Lisa Strickland, Contec, CleanRooms:June 2008
Deciding what types of disinfectant will provide the greatest efficacy for your application require a back to basics approach.
A History Lesson In Green Disinfection (66 KB): Lee Nesbitt, Virox Technologies Inc.
Sustainability - Author visits the past to lay the foundation for the future.
Excerpt:“Not a moment too soon and no doubt as a result of significant consumer pressure, the EPA, in conjunction with the Agency's own Design for the Environment Formulator Program (DfE), recently conducted an "Internal Pilot" into a potential policy change that would allow claims of environmental preferability in regard to hard, non-porous surface disinfectants and sanitizers. ”
A Scientific and Fact-Based Critique of the Article “Aquatic Toxicity and Green Cleaning – What are the Facts?” (1.18 MB): Nicole Kenny, BSc, Assoc. Chem., Director of Professional and Technical Services, Virox Technologies Inc.,
Excerpt:“In the 1990s, when the green movement was in its infancy, end users would actually pay a premium for products considered green. However today, with regulations, restrictions, general awareness and massive recycle initiatives, it is largely presumed by clients that companies will offer them products that are friendly or friendlier. Also the premiums paid in the past are all but gone. Green is no longer a differentiator, it is a responsible and necessary component of any chemical company strategy. Finally, those that choose to use an eco-labelled product should do so with the confidence and assurance that an arms length body has performed due diligence and accepted the product. Then let performance be the judge.” pg. 6
Human Avian Influenza: A sanitation perspective (1.20 MB): Nicole Kenny, Virox Technologies Inc.
Excerpt:“Many people, certainly the international media, are looking at what is now primarily a viral infection of birds, and predicting a doomsday scenario sufficient in scope to remove almost half of humanity from the face of the earth. In the worst case hypothesis, our hospitals will quickly swell beyond a rapidly diminishing capacity, workplaces will be abandoned grinding commerce to a halt, any large public gathering will be disbursed by public order, transit systems will shut down, face masks will be haute couture, and instead of shaking hands in casual greeting we will bump elbows. The good news is that this doomsday scenario is about as likely as the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series. The bad news is we need to get busy working on a plan for “the just-in-case.”” pg. 1
BIOFILMS: Friend or Foe? (1.49 MB): Nicole Kenny, Virox Technologies Inc.
Excerpt:“It is interesting to note, that more than 99 per cent of all bacteria in the world exists as part of a biofilm community although, historically, microbiologists have only studied free-floating (planktonic) bacteria.” pg. 7
Improving Your Micro-Vision (572 KB): Nicole Kenny, Virox Technologies Inc.
Excerpt:“Micro-vision doesn’t require a stethoscope or coke-bottle glasses, or even the ability to squint. In fact, micro-vision doesn’t require vision at all. Micro-vision is comprised of equal parts knowledge, imagination and responsibility.” pg. 1
When it Comes to Infection Control,Knowledge Really IS Power (282 KB): Nicole Kenny, B.Sc, Assoc. Chem
Excerpt:“In 2000, the Chicago Tribune conducted an investigative report of hospitals and found that 75 percent of an estimated 103,000 patient deaths were linked to hospital-acquired infections — mostly as a result of unsanitary facilities, unwashed hands and/or dirty instruments. ” pg. 1