Cleaning and disinfection of large and small surfaces

EasyMop GMP® System Box

Mop Soaking Test with Clearklens

Analysis of Nutritional Media

The new EasyMop GMP^®  System Box enables the pre-preparation of multiple mop covers within the system through its innovative design and allows the equipment to remain in the cleanroom for several days. The advantages are clear: increased user safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in the cleaning and disinfection process. But does this not pose a risk of system-inherent microbiological contamination? basan – the cleanroom division of VWR International GmbH – addressed this question in a cooperative study.

The foundation for effective cleaning and disinfection is safe and efficient equipment that is easy to handle. An intelligent design like that of the new EasyMop GMP^®  System Box minimizes human error sources during mopping and makes the process safe, efficient, and economical. Additionally, the system is space-saving and can be stored in a controlled environment over an extended period – a relevant aspect especially for smaller production facilities, such as those often found in pharmacy settings.

A particular advantage of the innovative EasyMop GMP^®  System Box is the possibility of pre-preparing multiple mop covers in a closed system and leaving the entire system in the cleanroom. This avoids critical error sources – provided that microbiological contamination does not occur through this process itself or that the effectiveness of the disinfectant diminishes. basan, the cleanroom division of VWR International GmbH, initiated a cooperative study with the companies Diversey and Pfennig Reinigungstechnik GmbH to examine these questions. It was to be proven that the new EasyMop GMP^®  System Box does not pose a risk of additional contamination. Furthermore, it was to be demonstrated that an extended stand time has no impact on the disinfecting efficacy of the solution and that the active ingredient content remains sufficiently high to prevent microbial growth in the solution.

The study design:

10 sterile mop covers were placed into the EasyMop GMP^®  box including MopJump, according to instructions, and soaked with 4 liters of sterile disinfectant (ClearKlens Tego 2000 RTU). From Tuesday to Monday (extension of the stand time to 7 days), two mop covers were removed and wrung out each time. The concentration of amphotericin in this wringing water was precisely monitored, and the total microbial count was microbiologically determined. Each mop cover was wrung out individually into a resealable glass using a funnel. The concentration of the disinfectant in this wringing water was also measured. An additional milliliter of wringing water was plated onto sterile Petri dishes with CASO agar and incubated for 48 hours.

The results:

The initial concentration of the ready-to-use disinfectant was 1.01 percent. The amphotericin content in the solution after 10 minutes (Day 1) showed a value of 0.86 percent for both mop covers, indicating that part of the active substance is absorbed into the fibers. During the study, the active ingredient decreased uniformly. After 7 days (Tuesday to Monday), residual concentrations of 0.77 percent and 0.78 percent were still measurable.

The analysis of the nutrient media over the entire study period showed that no cultures grew on the nutrient media from the plated wringing water.

Conclusion:

The study convincingly demonstrates that the EasyMop GMP^®  System Box is a safe system that does not pose inherent risks for microbiological contamination. The active ingredient loss over the proposed five-day stand time is within the normal range. Longer stays do not lead to significant additional loss. The intelligent design thus offers users in both large and small cleanrooms the possibility of simple, efficient, safe, space-saving, and thus economical cleaning and disinfection.

Outlook:

Every production facility requires an individual concept for safe cleaning and disinfection. This must consider the personnel performing the process, analyze the spatial conditions, and keep economic factors in mind. With flexible, certified systems suitable for small as well as large areas, a selection of highly effective cleaning and disinfecting agents, and well-trained personnel, current and future requirements for cleaning and disinfection in controlled environments can be met effectively.