Accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP) is a solution of

hydrogen peroxide Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula . In its pure form, it is a very pale blue liquid that is slightly more viscous than water. It is used as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic, usually as a dilute solution (3% ...

whose

antibacterial An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention ...

efficacy is enhanced by a

surfactant Surfactants are chemical compounds that decrease the surface tension between two liquids, between a gas and a liquid, or interfacial tension between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, fo ...

and an

organic acid An organic acid is an organic compound with acidic properties. The most common organic acids are the carboxylic acids, whose acidity is associated with their carboxyl group –COOH. Sulfonic acids, containing the group –SO2OH, are ...

. It is also a

disinfectant A disinfectant is a chemical substance or compound used to inactivate or destroy microorganisms on inert surfaces. Disinfection does not necessarily kill all microorganisms, especially resistant bacterial spores; it is less effective than s ...

cleaning agent Cleaning agents or hard-surface cleaners are substances (usually liquids, powders, sprays, or granules) used to remove dirt, including dust, stains, bad smells, and clutter on surfaces. Purposes of cleaning agents include health, beauty, removi ...

that stabilizes hydrogen peroxide so that it can be used for extended periods of time.

Properties

A 2% solution of accelerated hydrogen peroxide achieves a high level of disinfection in 5 minutes and is suitable for disinfecting hard plastic medical devices such as

endoscope An endoscope is an inspection instrument composed of image sensor, optical lens, light source and mechanical device, which is used to look deep into the body by way of openings such as the mouth or anus. A typical endoscope applies several modern t ...

s. In addition to being an excellent fungicide, chemicals using accelerated hydrogen peroxide have been suggested by some papers to be safer for humans and more environmentally friendly. In research done in 2016, accelerated hydrogen peroxide demonstrated effectiveness against the

foot-and-mouth disease virus ''Foot-and-mouth disease virus'' (FMDV) is the pathogen that causes foot-and-mouth disease. It is a picornavirus, the prototypical member of the genus '' Aphthovirus''. The disease, which causes vesicles (blisters) in the mouth and feet of ...

(FMDV), swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV), along with Senecavirus A. Effectiveness against

ringworm Dermatophytosis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin. Typically it results in a red, itchy, scaly, circular rash. Hair loss may occur in the area affected. Symptoms begin four to fourteen days after exposure. Multiple a ...

and

parvovirus Parvoviruses are a family of animal viruses that constitute the family ''Parvoviridae''. They have linear, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) genomes that typically contain two genes encoding for a replication initiator protein, called NS1, and the p ...

has also been cited by veterinarians.

Usage

Recommendation by the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level o ...

The WHO has announced that AHP is particularly effective in disinfecting hospital facilities, and cites accelerated hydrogen peroxide as one of the disinfectants that are used for adequate sterilization. Japan In May 2020, accelerated hydrogen peroxide was utilized for disinfection when there was a rapid spread of

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickl ...

on board the cruise vessel Costa Atlantica while anchored by the Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard, according to Japanese media. The product used for sterilization on the Costa Atlantica was OXILITE PRO, the first Japanese-made accelerated hydrogen peroxide disinfectant. Canada During the

SARS Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic origin caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-1), the first identified strain of the SARS coronavirus species, '' s ...

pandemic in 2003, the

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care The Ministry of Health is the Government of Ontario ministry responsible for administering the health care system in the Canadian province of Ontario. The ministry is responsible to the Ontario Legislature through the minister of health, presentl ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

published a training bulletin citing accelerated hydrogen peroxide solutions as effective agents against emergency vehicles and equipment used in transporting SARS infected patients. As of October 2020, Health Canada includes accelerate hydrogen peroxide disinfectants as effective solutions against SARS-CoV-2, the novel Coronavirus. United States Between the years 2006 and 2011, amid risks of powerful bacteria such as ''

Clostridioides difficile ''Clostridioides difficile'' (syn. ''Clostridium difficile'') is a bacterium that is well known for causing serious diarrheal infections, and may also cause colon cancer. Also known as ''C. difficile'', or ''C. diff'' (), is Gram-positive spec ...

'' and

MRSA Methicillin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus'' (MRSA) is a group of Gram-positive bacteria that are genetically distinct from other strains of ''Staphylococcus aureus''. MRSA is responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans. ...

infecting patients by adhering onto hospital facilities,

Hunterdon Medical Center Hunterdon Medical Center is a 178-bed non-profit community hospital A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known ty ...

, which used accelerated hydrogen peroxide based disinfectants for sanitation, cut C. diff and MRSA infection rates by 79% and 66% respectively. United Kingdom In a 2007 guidance report by the Norovirus Working Group in the

Health Protection Agency The Health Protection Agency (HPA) was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It was an organisation that was set up by the UK government in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and env ...

, together with the

Maritime and Coastguard Agency The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an executive agency of the United Kingdom that responsible for implementing British and international maritime law and safety policy. It works to prevent the loss of lives at sea and to prevent marine ...

, accelerated hydrogen peroxide has been reported to show effectiveness against

feline calicivirus ''Feline calicivirus'' (FCV) is a virus of the family '' Caliciviridae'' that causes disease in cats. It is one of the two important viral causes of respiratory infection in cats, the other being '' Felid alphaherpesvirus 1''. FCV can be isol ...

, a surrogate for

norovirus Norovirus, sometimes referred to as the winter vomiting disease, is the most common cause of gastroenteritis. Infection is characterized by non-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Fever or headaches may also occur. Symptoms usually deve ...

References

{{Reflist Disinfectants Peroxides Hydrogen peroxide Hydrogen compounds