Question
- What is the clinical effectiveness of non-manual room disinfection methods for infection prevention in health care facilities?
- What is the comparative clinical effectiveness of non-manual room disinfection methods for infection prevention in health care facilities?
- What is the cost-effectiveness of non-manual room disinfection methods for infection prevention in health care facilities?
- What is the comparative cost-effectiveness of non-manual room disinfection methods for infection prevention in health care facilities?
- What are the evidence-based guidelines regarding non-manual room disinfection methods for infection prevention in health care facilities?
Key Message
There is some evidence that non-manual room disinfection methods based on hydrogen peroxide and UV light are effective at preventing or reducing infection in health care facilities. However, many of the included studies in this report stated that further studies are warranted. Non-manual room disinfection technologies differ significantly even when the base intervention (hydrogen peroxide or UV light) is the same. For this reason, the suitability of one technology over the other has to be determined based on several factors including the intended application, labour cost and availability, and practicality of implementation to fit the nature of operations at health care facilities. Cost-effectiveness models based on the conditions at the local health care facility may be preferable given the various options for acquisition of non-manual room disinfection technologies and the associated cost differentials.