PCT Ltd (PCTL)

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Through PCTL’s primary healthcare distributor, ACE Janitorial Services, five (5) of the company’s modified rack-mounted Annihilyzer® Infection Control systems are being installed at an existing NYC hospital, adding to the two systems currently installed and operating at this location. The hospital is currently conducting a pilot program aimed at increasing their ability to produce disinfecting fluid onsite for use in multiple applications.

Seven (7) systems in one hospital is huge. The first 2 systems is probably used for disinfecting rooms and cleaning. The other 5 systems is for a pilot program for what?


I've stumble into this article that may possibly be the answer:

A Modern Approach to Disinfection, as Old as the Evolution of Vertebrates


The immune system of vertebrates “naturally” produces hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to fight against bacteria and pathogens. A patented electrochemical technology mirrors the above defense system, allowing the synthesis of HOCl solutions through the electrolysis of water enriched in salts, at the level of a few grams per liter. The system allows for the careful control of the pH of produced solutions, with consequent optimization of their activity. Once the HOCl is introduced into the water system; it is able to remove the biofilm from pipe network; significantly decreasing the level of Legionella colonization; within 8–10 weeks from the beginning of the disinfection approach. The technology has been applied in a variety of healthcare facilities, both in Italy and in neighboring European countries. In the present paper, two successful case studies are briefly presented: Data were obtained from experiences in two different healthcare facilities, one in Italy and the other in Germany. Destruction of biofilm was indirectly testified by an increase of total organic carbon content of water; as a consequence, and because of the dosing of the disinfecting agent, some µg/L of total halomethanes were also formed. However, both compositional features were only observed during the initial stages of the disinfection treatment.

Different approaches are currently being used to fight against opportunistic pathogens present in aquatic environments, such as Legionella. Since each method has some pros and, unfortunately, some cons, a universally applicable solution has not been identified yet. The approach described in this study was inspired by observing how the immune system of vertebrates works to defend the body from any form of chemical, traumatic or infectious insult to its integrity (see e.g., [1]). Nonspecific immunity is substantially based on the activity of neutrophils and macrophages leukocytes, which have the fundamental task to capture and destroy foreign substances, through phagocytosis. Of great importance is the action of myeloperoxidase (MPO), an enzyme that produces hypochlorous acid (HOCl) from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and chloride anion (Cl-), during the neutrophils’ respiratory burst [2,3,4].

University Hospital of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. Due to the positioning of the buildings in a pavilion system, the Dresden University Hospital has used several different hot water systems decontamination methods. Besides the electrolytic process presently under discussion, thermal disinfection, a combination of UV with ultrasound or the filtration of drinking water at the point of use have all been used. Despite several thermal decontaminations, colony counts of Legionella pneumophila in the hot water system of the department of neurology were repeatedly over 10,000 colony-forming units (CFU)/L. Isolates were determined to belong to several serogroups, including serogroup 1 that is associated with a higher virulence. A two-story building of 15 years with 45 beds was selected to assess the performance of the Ecas technology.

Cardinal Massaia Hospital, Asti, Italy. The Asti hospital is organized in six departments, for a total of 471 beds for inpatient admissions and 51 places for day-hospital. In addition, a surgical unit with 11 rooms, a block of Day Surgery and an obstetric room are located on the -1, 2nd and 3rd floor, respectively. The total area of the Asti hospital amounts to 125,000 m2; the daily average attendance is about 450 patients, and the employment index is equal to 90%. Nosocomial infections are prevented by using control measures against Legionella proliferation in the hot water distribution system. The plant is divided into several sub-stations: Each one consists of a heat exchanger, fed by water at 90 °C coming from the main heating plant, 11 vertical tanks and 1 horizontal tank in galvanized steel, internally coated with Teflon. The distribution plant consists of a recirculation loop, in order to keep an optimal temperature in the vicinity of the different peripheral points. The cold water pertaining to the hot water system network is softened at 4 °f. In general, a complete elimination of bacteria is difficult to achieve with any disinfection approach. In this study, the efficacy of two continuous dosing methods for the eradication of Legionella from hospital water supplies has been evaluated and compared. Both approaches require the continuous dosing of a biocide into the hot water system: Method 1 involves the use of an electrochemically activated water (the Ecas anolyte), containing hypochlorous acid at neutral pH, while method 2 relies upon a solution of hydrogen peroxide and silver (Cillit Allsil Super 25 Ag). It is worth mentioning that the latter approach is not always applicable, being for example not permitted by German legislation for continuous treatment of drinking water [21]. The two continuous disinfection systems were installed in the Asti hospital in two distinct water supplies.


3.1. Decontamination of Hot Water System — Dresden University Hospital (Germany)

At the beginning of the monitoring program (see Table 1), analyses showed a systemic colonization of the hot water network of the department of Neurology: Colony counts of Legionella pneumophila were repeatedly over 10,000 CFU/L. Within a week from the installation of the HOCl generating unit, a significant reduction in colony counts of L. pneumophila at water outlets was achieved. Colony counts increased slightly afterwards, plausibly because of the destruction of biofilm. However, the contamination completely disappeared after about 8 weeks. No Legionella was detected 6 months later during the manufacturer’s recommended inspection. Technical problems such as corrosion or leaching of the piping were not reported. During the first 8 weeks, chemical analyses have determined that the chlorine content in tap water did not exceed 0.6 mg/L. Actually, the German regulation allows a chlorine content in drinking water up to 1.2 mg/L at the injection point, and between 0.1 and 0.3 mg/L at the points of use; exceptionally, the chlorine concentration can be raised up to 0.6 mg/L [21,26]. Patients and staff tolerated the temporary slightly higher chlorine smell.


3.2. Evaluation of Two Disinfection Systems for Legionella Eradication — Cardinal Massaia Hospital, Asti (Italy)

Pre-treatment samples from water supply 1 showed Legionella contamination of 60–180 CFU/L in the hot water tank, and of 300–16,000 CFU/L in distal points. After starting the anolyte-based disinfection system (method 1: Dosing of active chlorine was between 1.2 and 0.3 mg/L, mean 0.6 mg/L), all samples showed a clear reduction in colony counts (≤100 CFU/L). Samples from water supply 2 showed initial contaminations in the range 180–24,000 CFU/L. After starting the disinfection, by dosing 2 mg/L of hydrogen peroxide (method 2), the contamination reduced to 20–15,000 CFU/L. During the observation period, the product was dosed at variable concentrations and only in the second-last sampling, in the presence of the highest dose of biocide (>25 mg/L), the culture counts were negative. However, the contamination appeared again in the last sampling (H2O2 at 2 mg/L), with values up to 600 CFU/L.

Method 1 proved to be effective in eradicating Legionella from the hospital water supply, with active chlorine concentration > 0.2 mg/L (the Italian legislation suggests a level of 0.2–0.3 mg/L at the point of use [27]). In contrast, method 2 was not efficient, at least at the biocide concentration proposed by the manufacturer. After the six-months research at one of the twelve hot-water circuits of the large Hospital of Asti, the medical management decided to install the anolyte-producing unit on all hot-water systems and units were installed in all buildings in October-November 2009. Results shown in Figure 2 refer to the first months of operation of the system (the chart legend reports the code of the rooms from where the samples were taken). From 2010 onwards, trends are actually straight lines connecting colony count data comprised between 50 and 100 CFU/L. Occasional rises (never exceeding 300 CFU/L) coincided with maintenance or extended periods of non-utilization [28].
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4934573/

If it is not for the water system then the air handling units may be another possibility.