Mgr. Rudolf Hlaváč
Sales Director and Project Manager, Detectair Technologies
Peer-reviewed publication
From 546 colonies to 27 in 180 days
The system was clinically tested on a ward of University Hospital Bratislava, Ružinov. Over six months of daily application, the number of colonies isolated from the air fell by 95%. The study was carried out by the hospital department together with the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University, and the results underwent peer review in the journal Antibiotics.
Day 0546 colonies
Study design
The microbial load of a room is not usually measured
In the study, it was measured for six months on a fully occupied internal medicine ward with patients, staff and visitors, an environment into which microorganisms are continually reintroduced.
Site
UNB Ružinov, 5th Department of Internal Medicine
University Hospital Bratislava together with the Department of Hospital Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University. The study's co-authors also include representatives of the manufacturer; the study contains a conflict of interest statement.
Duration
Six months of measurement
Air: baseline measurement and after 30, 90 and 180 days. Surfaces: seven samplings up to day 210.
Groups compared
Three comparison groups
Daily application, application twice a week, and control rooms without dry fog disinfection.
Number of colonies isolated from the air
Measured at baseline and after 30, 90 and 180 days of system use
Show table
| Regime | Baseline | 30 days | 90 days | 180 days | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | 546 | 439 | 208 | 27 | −95% |
| Twice a week | 543 | 488 | 320 | 156 | −71.3% |
| Control (no disinfection) | 542 | 570 | 559 | 565 | +4% |
Results
Results after 180 days
In the rooms where the system was applied, the microbial load of the air fell with each successive measurement. In the control rooms, it remained unchanged.
Air
The reduction was marked and persisted throughout the measurement period. Daily application achieved a greater reduction than application twice a week, but the difference between the regimes was not statistically significant: after 180 days, the daily regime reached 27 colonies, i.e. five per cent of the baseline value.
Surfaces
On surfaces, the reduction over time in the treated rooms was statistically significant (p = 0.010). Compared with the control rooms, however, it did not reach significance (p = 0.063 for daily application). Surfaces are continually recontaminated by touch, so a single percentage figure is not given.
95%
average reduction in airborne microbial load
- daily
application: - 95% reductionfrom 546 to 27 colonies
- application
twice a week: - 71.3% reductionfrom 543 to 156 colonies
- combined result
of both regimes: - 83.2% reductionfrom 1,089 to 183 colonies
- statistically
significant reduction: - p < 0.001
The stated efficacy was achieved with daily application at a product concentration of 6% in two cycles of 6 minutes each, with the room kept closed for a further 45 minutes after application in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. In the publication, the system is referred to as Hydrofogg™ by Detectair Technologies.
Conclusion
The study authors' conclusions
The study authors state that dry fog disinfection effectively reduces microbial load even in open areas with heavy foot traffic, and recommend it as part of a multi-component infection control strategy, i.e. as a supplement to routine cleaning and disinfection, not as a replacement for them.
Demonstrated results
(p < 0.001)
Strong downward trend in airborne microbial load
(p = 0.002)
Significant effect of daily application compared with control rooms
(p = 0.010)
Reduction over time on surfaces in treated rooms
Reduction
Reduction in several specific species of microorganisms
Studies and reports
Library of studies and measurement reports
The published study is freely available. We will send you the measurement reports from individual facilities by email.
- Public2024
Efficacy of Antimicrobial Dry Fog in Improving the Environmental Microbial Burden in an Inpatient Ward
Peer-reviewed study conducted at UNB Ružinov (5th Department of Internal Medicine, inpatient ward) in cooperation with the manufacturer. Six months of daily application, measurement of the microbial load of air and surfaces.
Antibiotics 2024, 13, 1187doi: 10.3390/antibiotics13121187
- Public2025
Statistical evaluation of measurements: forensic pathology, St. Cyril and Methodius Hospital
Cold storage room, large autopsy room and other rooms; sampling on 16 October 2025. Evaluation by the accredited laboratory ALS SK (SNAS 051/S-104).
ALS SK
- By email2025
Consolidated measurement report: AGEL Hospital Valašské Meziříčí
Operating theatre, April to October 2025 (6 months). Evaluation by ALS SK.
ALS SK
Get the reportWe will send it to you by email - Public2025
Summary measurement report: University Hospital Nitra
Operating theatres No. 2 and 4 (theatre No. 1 as control), April to November 2025.
Summary report
- By email2025
Consolidated measurement report: UNB, Academician L. Dérer Hospital (ODCH)
Long-term care department, 2 rooms, September to November 2025. Evaluation by ALS SK.
ALS SK
Get the reportWe will send it to you by email - By email2024
Result of a one-off dry fog disinfection test: University Hospital AGEL Skalica
Super-aseptic operating theatre of the orthopaedic department, test on 27 November 2023, report dated 11 January 2024.
University Hospital AGEL Skalica
Get the reportWe will send it to you by email