aHP vs. UV Disinfection
Aerosolized Hydrogen Peroxide vs. UV Disinfection
Choosing the Right Technology for Healthcare Settings
Effective environmental disinfection is a critical component of hospital infection prevention, particularly in high-risk areas such as patient rooms, ORs, and isolation rooms. Automated disinfection systems like aerosolized hydrogen peroxide (aHP) foggers and ultraviolet (UV) light devices have become widely adopted as supplemental systems for terminal cleaning. This comparison summarizes key performance and operational factors to help infection preventionists and EVS managers evaluate aHP versus UV disinfection systems for healthcare applications.
Comparative Summary: aHP vs. UV Disinfection Systems
| Feature | Aerosolized Hydrogen Peroxide (aHP) | Ultraviolet (UV) |
| Germicidal efficacy | Up to 6-log reduction; effective against viruses, bacteria, spores, including C. difficile and MRSA [1][2] | Up to 4-log reduction; efficacy drops outside direct line-of-sight and with distance from UV source [3] |
| Coverage | Whole-room; reaches all air-exposed surfaces, including crevices, soft surfaces, and under beds [1] | Line-of-sight only; may miss shadowed or obscured areas [3] |
| Residue / Re-entry | Leaves no residue; rooms re-enterable within 20–30 minutes after fogging [4] | No residue; re-entry can occur immediately after treatment |
| Ease of use | Breezy Blue™ enables labor-free whole-room disinfection at the push of a button [4] | Setup can be complicated for rooms with shadowed areas; positioning and cycle times vary by room |
| Scheduling / automation | Remote scheduling and monitoring via Breezy Cloud dashboards [4] | Some automation options; typically used with manual operation |
| Device cost | < $5,000 for complete Breezy Blue™ kits [4] | $30,000–$100,000 per unit typical [4] |
| Consumable cost | ~$2 per 2,400 ft³ patient room using Breezy BioCare™ RTU [4] | ~$0 (electricity costs are minimal) |
| Maintenance | Minimal; wipe-down and filter check [4] | Moderate; bulb replacement, calibration typically required |
| Deodorization | Yes; neutralizes odors by killing odor-causing bacteria [4] | No; UV does not deodorize |
| Material compatibility | Safe for electronics, fabrics, papers when used as directed [4] | Safe for most surfaces |
| Clinical evidence | Demonstrated CDI reduction of 41–74% with aHP systems [2] | Mixed outcomes; some reductions in HAIs, especially VRE/MRSA [3] |
Why aHP is Gaining Momentum in Hospitals
Both technologies provide benefits when supplementing manual cleaning protocols, but aerosolized hydrogen peroxide offers clear advantages in full-room coverage, microbial reduction, and real-world germicidal efficacy. Studies have shown significant decreases in hospital-onset C. difficile infections with consistent use of aHP systems [2]. aHP is also less dependent on operator precision and room geometry than UV systems.
Breezy Blue™: The Most User-Friendly and Cost-Effective aHP Solution Available
Among aHP technologies, Breezy Blue™ stands out as the simplest and most economical solution for healthcare environments. With one-touch operation, cloud-connected scheduling, and consumables that cost under $2 per room, Breezy Blue™ enables hospitals to implement enhanced disinfection without the complexity or cost of legacy systems. It’s EPA-registered hydrogen peroxide disinfectant has been tested to eliminate >99.999% of pathogens, including emerging viral threats [4].
References
[1] Otter JA et al. An Overview of Automated Room Disinfection Systems: When to Use Them and How to Choose Them. Elsevier, 2020.
[2] Truitt CL et al. Evaluation of an Aerosolized Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfection System for the Reduction of Clostridioides difficile Hospital Infection Rates Over a 10 Year Period. American Journal of Infection Control, 2021.
[3] Anderson DJ et al. Enhanced Terminal Room Disinfection and Acquisition and Infection Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Organisms and Clostridium difficile. The Lancet, 2017.
[4] Breezy Med. Frequently Asked Questions.
