'Dry' steam can kill MRSA in hospitals

LONDON, July 31 (UPI) -- A British steam supplier says an unpublished study found dry steam could destroy bacteria, normally found in hospitals, in less than 2 seconds.

The University College London Hospital study, commissioned by specialist steamer OspreyDeepclean, found bacteria Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile were destroyed by dry steam applied at temperatures ranging from 150 to 180 C in 2 seconds.

The new technology, devised by scientists at the British firm Oxford Catalysts, uses a precious metal catalyst to generate the steam at temperatures up to 800 C in just a couple of seconds. Steam produced by the technology is so-called "dry" steam, generated by the reaction between methanol and hydrogen peroxide.

Despite the need to address hospital-acquired infections by bacteria such as MRSA, the first application of the technology is likely to be a GumBuster backpack for removing chewing gum from pavements and other surfaces.