Disinfection of hospital-derived antibiotic-resistant bacteria at source using peracetic acid

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria disinfection in untreated hospital wastewater using peracetic acid with short contact time

“…In Denmark due to organisational optimisation of health services, local hospitals are being centralised into a few large regional hospitals built outside urban centres; therefore, the contribution of ARB from such big hospitals will play a larger role in a few local WWTPs raising concern for increased exposure of WWTP workers and effluents becoming ARB hotspots. 6,34 Unbranched sewage pipes from new regional hospitals connected to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) are built to avoid the risk of sewer overflows from the existing combined sewers. In a previous study, we showed the technical option to utilize these pipes as a reaction tank for disinfection, dosing PAA at the origin (hospital) enabling a long retention time (>20 min) which ensures the optimal disinfection yield from the added PAA.…”

“…In a previous study, we showed the technical option to utilize these pipes as a reaction tank for disinfection, dosing PAA at the origin (hospital) enabling a long retention time (>20 min) which ensures the optimal disinfection yield from the added PAA. 34 A few Danish regional hospitals were made by enlarging existing local hospital facilities rather than constructing a new hospital and these hospitals retain the existing sewage pipe structure with a short distance before hospital wastewater is mixed into the municipal sewers. The retention time for wastewater in such pipes are unattractively short giving at the peak flow just 1-2 min contact time for disinfection with PAA before the hospital wastewater is diluted in the main municipal sewers.…”

“…In Denmark due to organisational optimisation of health services, local hospitals are being centralised into a few large regional hospitals built outside urban centres; therefore, the contribution of ARB from such big hospitals will play a larger role in a few local WWTPs raising concern for increased exposure of WWTP workers and effluents becoming ARB hotspots. 6,34…”

“…In a previous study, we showed the technical option to utilize these pipes as a reaction tank for disinfection, dosing PAA at the origin (hospital) enabling a long retention time (>20 min) which ensures the optimal disinfection yield from the added PAA. 34…”