Evaluation of a Novel Hydrogen Peroxide Vaporization Robot System for Biodecontamination Compared with Conventional Methods

Hydrogen peroxide vaporization (HPV) is an established no-touch environmental disinfection technology; however, conventional systems require manual setup and may involve prolonged operating times. This study evaluated a newly developed HPV Smart Robot designed to automate hydrogen peroxide vapor distribution and aeration in a controlled clinical simulation environment. A comparative performance evaluation was conducted in a 48.7 m2 clinical simulation enclosure. Four experimental cycles were performed, including one conventional HPV cycle and three robotic HPV cycles operated under different navigation modes and fan-angle configurations. Geobacillus stearothermophilus biological indicators (BIs) were used to assess sporicidal efficacy, while chemical indicators and hydrogen peroxide concentration measurements were used to evaluate vapor distribution. Complete biodecontamination was achieved at all 20 environmental sampling locations in every experiment. When four robot-internal sampling sites were included, biodecontamination rates ranged from 95% to 100%, with a single persistent positive biological indicator detected at a recessed fan–corner junction within the robotic platform. All experiments achieved hydrogen peroxide concentrations above the manufacturer-recommended target threshold (≥140 ppm). Although the robotic system demonstrated greater spatial variability in hydrogen peroxide concentration than the conventional system, effective sporicidal activity was maintained throughout the enclosure. The robotic platform reduced setup time from approximately 15 min to 5 min and shortened total cycle duration from approximately 285 min to 221–231 min. In this controlled simulation study, the HPV Smart Robot demonstrated high microbiological efficacy and improved operational efficiency compared with a conventional HPV workflow. These findings support the feasibility of robotic HPV biodecontamination systems while highlighting the importance of airflow optimization and internal component design to ensure consistent vapor penetration.