Case Study: Listeria Decontamination Service

Our Decontamination Service Team has been busy, recently working on multiple projects in Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, and Washington State. One of our more recent projects was helping a company eliminate a listeria problem in the customer's produce blend room. This facility was not in production and was finishing a punch list of installations, upgrades, and maintenance activities. Our Decontamination Team slid in alongside the customer's schedule in order to limit the disruption and enable production to begin as soon as possible.

The almost 500,000 ft³ Blend Room was turned over to our team at 4pm.  At this time, gas injection tubing was run to 10 different locations in order to speed up the natural distribution of the gas.  Gas sample tubing was run to 6 different locations within the Blend Room in order to measure gas concentrations throughout the decontamination process.  This enables our team to confidently control the process, making sure that the entire room has been subjected to the proper dosage of chlorine dioxide gas necessary to achieve a 6-log sporicidal reduction.  Biological Indicators were placed in 20 different locations throughout the space, including placement under trash cans, as well as beneath and behind equipment.  Conveyors, doors, and the HVAC system handling the room were then sealed.  At approximately 11:15pm, gassing started.  At 3:15 am, all areas within the room reached the appropriate dosage, and aeration began.  Upon completion, equipment was removed from the space along with biological indicators.  The next day, Biological Indicators were dropped in growth media and incubated for 36 hours to check if any of the million bacterial spores contained on the indicator were left viable to grow and multiply.  After 36 hours, none of the 20 biological indicators showed any growth, proving that a 6-log sporicidal reduction took place within the Blend Room.  The project was successful and the company was able to start production shortly after.

Visit the ClorDiSys website to learn more about our decontamination services for all industries.

Biological Indicators: Testing a Cycle's Success

ClorDiSys uses Biological Indicators (BIs) to verify the efficacy of our decontamination cycles. Also known as spore strips, the BIs we use consist of over a million (1 x 10⁶) Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores inoculated on a paper substrate and wrapped in Tyvek. The chlorine dioxide gas molecule is small enough to permeate the Tyvek and kill the spores inside. To challenge the decontamination/sterilization cycle, BIs are placed in hard to reach areas throughout the space being decontaminated. Once the decontamination has been completed, the BIs are dropped into growth media using aseptic technique. If the biological indicator does not produce growth within the media tube after the incubation period (we have validated a 36 hour incubation time with the BI manufacturer Crosstex), the process is deemed to be successful.

Below are some of the more challenging locations where Biological Indicators have been placed during chlorine dioxide gas decontaminations. All of these locations’ BIs exhibited 6-log sterilization level kill using our standard cycle.

Inside Packed Isolators

(Over 30 BIs were placed inside)

In Stacks of Filtered Cage Lids

(Blue tape on right corresponds to BIs shown in left image)

Underneath Dust

(Comparable to that of HEPA filters)

In HEPA Filters

(BI between the filter's pleats)

In Packed Storage Rooms

(BI placed at the bottom of the closest trash can)

Contract Sterilization Services

ClorDiSys offers Contract Sterilization Services where we can decontaminate your items, equipment, supplies, and products at our facility, then ship them back to your facility or onward to a 3rd party facility. ClorDiSys uses chlorine dioxide gas for sterilization of components instead of gamma irradiation, ethylene oxide gas, or electron beam methods. ClorDiSys’ chlorine dioxide gas is registered with the US EPA (Reg. # 80802-1) as a sterilant capable of killing all viruses, bacteria, fungi, and spores. Turnaround time is traditionally 24 hours, with items typically being shipped back the day after they arrive. In some cases, turnaround time can be hours, with the items arriving, being treated, and shipped on the same day. Upon completion, a Certification Sheet is issued describing the process and showing the sterilization cycle data.

COMMON APPLICATIONS

• Sterilization of components, instruments, or other items before entering a clean facility

• Equipment contaminated with amplicons or beta lactams

• Computers, printers, keyboards, and routers

• Electronics (RFID tags, monitoring instruments, microscopes)

• Supplies (Shoes, safety glasses, clothing, animal cages)

• Sterile products manufactured in non-sterile facility

• Medical items

• HEPA or Sterilizing Filters

• Contaminated items due to mold, pinworms, or user-site returns

CD Gas Decontamination: A Residue-Free Process

ClorDiSys Solutions’ chlorine dioxide gas is one of the most gentle decontaminating agents available. Our proprietary method of generation produces a dry, 100% pure chlorine dioxide gas which leaves no residue after treatment. There is no need to rinse, wipe, or clean surfaces afterward. One of the first commercial uses for this method of chlorine dioxide gas was the sterilization of implantable contact lenses. In order for the process to be approved by the FDA, it had to be proven that pure chlorine dioxide gas left behind no measurable residue.

The myth that chlorine dioxide leaves a residue is one that originates from the generalization of all chlorine dioxide products. Other methods of generating chlorine dioxide gas are not as pure, generating the gas using liquids. This method introduces acidic byproducts into the area which can cause corrosion and leave residues. These residues require a post-treatment rinse. After a decontamination is completed and our CD gas has been removed, the area is safe and does not require additional cleanup.

Visit our company's exhibit at one of these upcoming events to learn more:

April 10-11, 2018 IDFA Ice Cream Technology Conference

April 13, 2018 Southern Biosafety Association Spring 2018 Symposium

April 15-18, 2018 CETA Annual Meeting and Tradeshow

April 24, 2018 PDA Metro Chapter Day

April 25-26, 2018 17th Annual QUAD AALAS Symposium

An Effective Decontamination Requires Excellent Distribution

Chlorine dioxide is a sterilant that is a true gas at room temperatures, meaning it naturally distributes uniformly and completely within the space being decontaminated. It distributes the same way that oxygen does in a room, with the level of oxygen being the same throughout. This level of distribution is excellent when compared to vapor phase hydrogen peroxide, mists or fogs. 

Chlorine Dioxide Gas: Example of Even Distribution & Penetration vs. Thermal Image of a Vapor Phase Hydrogen Peroxide Cycle: Example of Poor Distribution

Hydrogen peroxide has been labeled as a “lazy gas” which doesn’t distribute readily. VPHP will start condensing back to the liquid state upon exiting the generator, and it is distributed throughout the chamber/room through line of sight injection. The vapor can be blocked by objects in its way, leaving the surfaces behind or underneath uncontacted or under-contacted. As such, the back side, underside, and internal portions of components may not be contacted by VPHP for a long enough period of time, at the proper concentration, to achieve the correct level of kill. If the decontaminating agent cannot reach ALL of the dangerous organisms in a critical environment, such as a BSL-3/4 facility, at the proper concentration, for the prescribed amount of time, then a complete decontamination will not occur and worker safety is compromised.

Learn more about the process and benefits of chlorine dioxide gas on April 10^th at our CD 101 webinar or attend one of our upcoming workshops. Click here to see when we will be in your area!

Stethoscope Disinfection

Next week, we will be in New Orleans attending the AORN Expo 2018! We hope to see everyone there and work together to prevent infections within the healthcare industry. 

As mentioned in the Fall 2017 issue of Healthcare Environmental Solutions News, stethoscope cleaning has a compliance rate near 0%. Frightening! More specifically, after a one second long use, contamination rates equalize to that of the physician's hand. With HAI's of utmost concern, every source of possible infection must be addressed. Stethoscopes have been known to host potentially pathogenic organisms including, but not limited to, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, and Clostridium difficile (C. diff).

A solution that is quick and easy is the Flashbox-mini, a tabletop UV-C chamber disinfecting at a 99% kill rate of harmful organisms in mere minutes. UV-C provides a dry, chemical-free, and residue-free method of disinfection effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. When micro-organisms are exposed to UV-C, the nuclei of the cells alter due to photolytic processes, preventing further replication, and causing cell death. The Flashbox-mini is a simple resolution to the complexity of HAI's and patient well-being.

Visit ClorDiSys Solutions at Booth #2018 at the AORN Expo March 25-27th! In the meantime, click here to learn more about ultraviolet light disinfection.

Best Method to Disinfect Phones as Rated by MIT

Cell phones are in everyone’s hands, all day long. Our hands come in contact with many not so pleasant things, with harmful germs and organisms being of particular concern.  To try to mitigate any risks, MIT decided to determine how best to actually clean cell phones.  Researchers tested wipes, sprays, and ultraviolet light disinfection systems, namely the Flashbox-mini and PhoneSoap.  After various studies, they crowned the most effective to be ClorDiSys' Flashbox-mini.  We are proud to hold the title and thrilled that our company's device is able to provide a fast, easy, and chemical free method to disinfect our much-used and much-loved phones. Click here to read the full article!

Ultraviolet light disinfection works by utilizing the UV-C spectrum; the killing range of the ultraviolet spectrum.  When light is emitted onto the surface, the DNA of bacteria, viruses, and spores is altered to prevent replication and causes cell death. To use the Flashbox-mini, simply place a phone, or any other item, onto the high-quality quartz glass shelf, close the door, turn on the timer, and watch the glow.  After just 1 minute, 99% or higher of harmful organisms will be gone.

Click here to learn more about the Flashbox-mini. 

The role of humidity in decontamination

Elevating the relative humidity within the environment being decontaminated has been shown to be important when targeting sporicidal reduction.  Spores are hard-shelled, and the elevated humidity levels cause the spore walls to swell and crack.  This allows the sterilant to penetrate the spore wall much quicker and easier, providing faster kill times for the decontamination process.

This has been demonstrated through the use of chlorine dioxide gas.  Biological Indicators, consisting of over a million geobacillus stearothermophilus spores, were subjected to chlorine dioxide gas cycles at varying relative humidity levels and exposure dosages. Results are shown below, with greater dosages required at dryer conditions.

Spring 2018 Workshop Locations Announced

ClorDiSys is hosting a number of free workshops this spring. These educational half-day workshops detail the chlorine dioxide gas decontamination process and the benefits it has over other methods of decontamination. Some presentations are for all industries concerned with contamination control, while others are specifically geared towards the food industry. All workshops include breakfast and lunch. View the schedule below to identify the location nearest you!

"The Process and Benefits of Chlorine Dioxide Gas"

Monday, March 12, 2018 8:30AM - 2:00PM

Hilton Garden Inn Westbury 

1575 Privado Road, Westbury, NY 11590

"The Process and Benefits of Chlorine Dioxide Gas"

Wednesday, March 14, 2018 8:30AM - 2:00PM

Sheraton Parsippany Hotel 

199 Smith Rd, Parsippany, NJ 07054

"The Process and Benefits of Chlorine Dioxide Gas"

Thursday, March 15, 2018 8:30AM - 2:00PM

Cambria Suites White Plains Downtown 

250 Main Street, White Plains, NY 10601

"The Process and Benefits of Chlorine Dioxide Gas"

Wednesday, March 28, 2018 8:30AM - 2:00PM

Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge 

1200 Burr Ridge Parkway, Burr Ridge, IL 60527

"Using Chlorine Dioxide Gas to Combat Recurring Pathogens
and Improve Overall Food Safety"

Wednesday April 4, 2018 8:30AM - 2:00PM

Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown-Union Station 

123 West Louisiana Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225

"Using Chlorine Dioxide Gas to Combat Recurring Pathogens
and Improve Overall Food Safety"

Thursday April 5, 2018 8:30AM - 2:00PM

Hilton St. Louis Airport 

10330 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63134

More dates and locations will be added throughout the year.
Our complete calendar is available HERE.

Disinfecting Ambulances with UV Light

Ambulances are one of the most crucial places to consider when trying to minimize the risk of Hospital Acquired Infections.  EMS vehicles are a hotbed for many different dangerous organisms to thrive given this constant interaction with the sick and wounded.  In fact, a study of Chicago area ambulances showed that 69% were infected with staphylococcus aureus in 2012.*  That is why there is a strong need to address the cleaning procedures within EMS vehicles.  Due to the short amount of downtime between deployments, rapid disinfection methods are needed.  Spraying and wiping chemicals can be time consuming, not effective, and dangerous to those exposed.  Fumigation may be effective, but is traditionally too lengthy of a process.  Ultraviolet Light disinfection fits the application nicely in that it does not require any chemicals to be used, is affordable to run, and only takes minutes for disinfection to occur.  Specifically designed for EMS vehicles, the Lantern is an easily portable device that can be placed on any surface and disinfect the vehicle of harmful bacteria within a minute and spores with 5 minutes.  To accommodate the design of EMS vehicles, the Lantern can also be turned upside down and hung from handrails.  The simplicity and ease of use, coupled with the rapid disinfection time allows for the Lantern to be used in between emergency activity, providing better safety for EMS crews, patients, and their families.

*Rago et al. Detection and Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Found in Ambulances in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. American Journal of Infection Control 2012

One of the biggest benefits of chlorine dioxide gas is how small it is!

In order to completely decontaminate a space, the method/chemical used must be able to reach and contact all organisms and pathogens with the area.  One disadvantage decontamination methods can have difficulty with are crevices and other niches.  These scratches, gaps, screw threads, and other hard-to-reach places can be difficult for most decontamination methods to penetrate, leaving those surfaces not contacted and potentially still contaminated.

Chlorine dioxide gas has a molecule size of 0.124 nm, which is smaller than the smallest known virus, porcine circovirus, which measures 13 nm in diameter.  With a molecule size 100x smaller than the smallest virus (coupled with the fact that chlorine dioxide is a true gas which fills the space its contained within evenly and completely) chlorine dioxide gas is able to reach and penetrate into all crevices within a space deeper than pathogens can reach.  This leaves dangerous pathogens with no place to hide, and leaves your facility with no place to worry about.










To learn more about how chlorine dioxide gas is able to provide a complete decontamination of all organisms / spores / pinworm eggs / beta lactams within the space, give us a call at 908-236-4100 or email us at info@clordisys.com

Biofilm Control

The control of biofilms within the food processing environment is a concern for anyone involved with food safety.  Biofilms can harbor and protect dangerous bacteria from traditional sanitation methods, leaving the environment at risk even after sanitation takes place.

To learn more about biofilms, we're thrilled to have Diane Walker, a Research Engineer at Montana State University's Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE) present at this year's 2nd Annual Food Safety and Microbiology Conference in Dallas on February 27th.  Diane's presentation is entitled, "Biofilms: From Formation to Elimination" and will discuss the science of biofilms and methods of control. Diane received the 2015 CBE Outstanding Researcher Award in recognition of her commitment to the CBE Industrial Associates Program and contributions towards creating a quality Standardized Biofilm Methods research program.  Her current research includes biofilms within the food and beverage industries and we are incredibly lucky to have Diane join us at the Food Safety and Microbiology Conference. 

We hope that you register and take advantage of an excellent experience by clicking here.

To learn more about the Standardized Biofilm Methods Laboratory and the research being performed, please click here.

Happy New Year - We've got a lot of excitement planned for 2018

We're looking forward to a great 2018 and we're happy to announce a variety of in-person and online learning opportunities.

Online Webinars

Every month we offer free webinars regarding contamination control.  These range from introductory webinars on chlorine dioxide gas and ultraviolet light, to more specific webinars detailing the decontamination of spiral freezers and the inactivation of pinworm eggs.  Click here to see the upcoming webinars and to sign up.

In-person Workshops

We offer free contamination control workshops across the US and this year we're planning one in Canada as well.  These workshops dive into a variety of topics concerning contamination control and the different methodologies used in different industries, including safety, material compatibility and efficacy.  Upcoming Workshops include:

Long Island, NJ - March 13

Parsippany, NJ - March 14

White Plains, NY - March 15

Chicago, IL - March 28

Indianapolis, IN - April 4

St. Louis, MO - April 5

King of Prussia, PA - May 9

Frederick, MD - May 11

Madison, WI - May 23

Lansing, MI - May 24

Atlanta, GA - June 5

Research Triangle Park, NC - June 12

Toronto, ON - September 12

Cambridge, MA - September 27

Sign up here!

Conferences

We go to too many conferences to list here, but visit our website to see where you can find us.

Our slate of events is always changing, so keep an eye out for new arrivals and we hope to see you somewhere in 2018.

Mock Outbreak Trial Cross Examination - When You're in the Hot Seat

At the Food Safety Consortium and Food Quality Symposium this past month, we shared some time with Shawn Stevens of Food Industry Counsel. Food Industry Counsel is the only law firm in the world that exclusively represents the food industry. Through our discussions, Shawn and the ClorDiSys team conceived a fun and unique session to include at our upcoming Food Safety and Microbiology Conference.

Taking up a scenario where a company has to defend the food safety decisions it has made post-foodborne illness outbreak, Shawn Stevens will perform a mock cross examination. This session will illustrate how important your everyday decisions can be by taking a look at the consequences that can arise in the event of a foodborne outbreak.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
As a food industry consultant and lawyer, Shawn Stevens works throughout the U.S. and abroad with food industry clients (including the world’s largest growers, processors, restaurant chains, distributors and grocers) helping them protect their brand by reducing food safety risk, complying with FDA and USDA food safety regulations, managing recalls, and defending high-profile foodborne illness claims.

5 Reasons You CANNOT Miss the 2018 Food Safety & Microbiology Conference

 

REASON #1: LEARN FROM FOOD SAFETY EXPERTS & INDUSTRY LEADERS

You'll be able to meet, listen to, and learn from world class speakers including:

Shawn K. Stevens, Food Industry Counsel

Dave Blomquist, DFB Consulting, LLC

Gary Acuff, Ph.D, Texas A&M

Diane Walker, Center for Biofilm Engineering

Mickey Parish, Ph.D, FDA

All speakers will be available outside of their presentation times for introductions and additional questions.

REASON #2: WORLD CLASS CONTENT
The agenda uniquely blends a mix of regulatory information, microbiological tips and tricks, as well as solutions straight from industry.  Presentations will deliver a well-rounded set of information to guide you and your company through the changes coming from FSMA as well as technological advances.  Upon leaving, you'll have clear takeaways which will help improve your environmental monitoring programs and limit your risk of contamination and recall.

VIEW THE COMPLETE PROGRAM HERE.

REASON #3: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Discover why they say everything is bigger, and better, in Texas! The conference will take place at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Just 30 minutes outside Dallas, you will never find yourself looking for something to do with beautiful Lake Grapevine, 4.5 acres of lush indoor gardens and Riverwalk, an elegant spa, and your choice of 10 restaurants, bars, and cafes.

REASON #4: A ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE

We’re excited to announce the addition of a very unique session to our program.  Taking up a scenario where a company has to defend the food safety decisions it has made post-foodborne illness outbreak, Shawn Stevens of Food Industry Counsel will perform a mock deposition.  The mock deposition will illustrate how important your everyday decisions and regulatory compliance can be, by taking a look at the consequences that can arise in the event of a foodborne illness outbreak.

REASON #5: HAVE FUN WITH YOUR FOOD INDUSTRY PEERS

This annual conference is a lot of learning packed into a short amount of time, but you'll also have opportunities to relax and get to know your peers. Our speakers and attendees are highly skilled and experienced professionals. During breakfast, lunch, and evening cocktail receptions, you have an opportunity to collaborate, hear new ideas, and validate or change your perspectives.