GB2325164A - Disinfecting sports equipment or breathing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Water sports or breathing equipment is treated with a disinfecting agent to remove water-borne microorganisms. The disinfecting agent may be a liquid or a gas. Preferably the disinfectant consists of a chlorinating agent such as chlorine dioxide. The equipment may be of a kind having internal cavities such as a bladder of a buoyancy control device, and the liquid disinfecting agent may be introduced through a port such as an exhaust or dump valve of such equipment. The disinfectant method is also suitable for treating wet suits, dry suit, masks and snorkels.

Description

Disinfection Method This invention relates to a disinfection method and more particularly to a method of disinfecting water sports equipment.

Water sports are generally enjoyed in open waters such as seas, lakes, rivers, canals etc, all of which in recent years have become increasingly polluted by sewerage, domestic and industrial waste etc. Water-borne microorganisms, including pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi etc) are accordingly becoming increasingly prolific in such polluted waters.

The risks of infection by exposure to such microorganisms in water are known and accordingly water for domestic use and consumption is always treated to reduce the viable count of microorganisms to safe levels. However, up until the present invention, there has been no appreciation of the particular risks of infection to which water sports enthusiasts are exposed whilst enjoying their sport in contaminated open waters.

In particular, there has been no appreciation of the particular problems addressed by the present invention, namely those problems associated with microbial contamination of water sports equipment including wet suits, dry suits, masks, snorkels, breathing equipment including regulators and hoses, life support devices, buoyancy control devices etc, due to exposure of that equipment to contaminated waters when participating in water sports in open waters.

Any microbes present in the water in which the equipment has been used which remain viable on the internal and external surfaces of water sports equipment may, over a period of time, multiply to unsafe levels. Since microorganisms are invisible to the naked eye, the user of such equipment is unaware of the nature or amount of microbial contamination thereof. Subsequent use of that equipment accordingly exposes the user to a risk of microbial infection which may cause urinary tract infections, skin infections, chest infections, influenza, colds, ear infections, eye infections etc.

Those water sports such as diving, sailing, wind surfing and water skiing etc, which involve the use of life support devices, buoyancy control devices and breathing equipment are particularly risky in this regard. During use, water tends to enter and settle in the internal cavities/passageways etc of such equipment. Over time that trapped water tends to stagnate and any microbes present multiply to high levels.

The risks are particularly acute with such equipment since the user's mouth comes into contact with such equipment and accordingly ingestion or inhalation of the microorganisms is unavoidable. For example with certain types of buoyancy control devices in an emergency "out of air" situation, the diver may, as an emergency measure, inhale the air contained in the bladder of the buoyancy control device. In addition manual inflation of life support devices (life jackets etc) and buoyancy control devices by blowing air through the mouth into those devices is sometimes necessary.

Furthermore on deflation of inflatable equipment such as buoyancy control devices and life support devices an aerosol is created by the expulsion of air from the internal cavity of such devices. Any individuals in proximity to the potentially highly infectious microbe contaminated aerosol risks inhalation thereof.

The present invention accordingly seeks to address a problem which up until now has not been appreciated, namely the risks of infection by exposure of individuals to water sports equipment contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of treating water sports equipment comprising the steps of: (1) applying a disinfecting agent to the external surfaces and/or internal parts of that equipment and (2) exposing those surfaces and/or parts to the disinfecting agent for a period of time.

Accordingly the present invention advantageously provides a simple, inexpensive yet effective method of treating water sports equipment in order to reduce, the, up until now, unappreciated risks of infection caused by the use of contaminated equipment.

Advantageously the method requires no rinsing or neutralising step since it leaves no residue in or on the equipment that is dangerous if ingested/inhaled nor an irritant if it contacts the skin. The method is simple to perform by the water sports enthusiast, requiring no technical expertise and thus requires minimal effort by the individual in order to increase safety whilst enjoying the sport.

Where the equipment to be treated comprises an internal cavity having at least one port in communication with that cavity, such as a life support device, buoyancy control device etc most preferably the method of treating the equipment comprises in step 1 applying the agent to the internal parts by introducing the disinfecting agent into the internal cavity through the or each port, and optimally, also preferably comprises the additional step (3) of substantially emptying the disinfecting agent from the cavity through at least one of those ports after step (2). Preferably a sufficient quantity of disinfecting agent is passed into the internal ports to substantially fill those parts.

Where the equipment is of such a nature that both its internal and external surfaces are relatively accessible such as masks, suits, regulators, hoses, gloves, boots etc, the disinfecting agent may be simply applied to all surfaces by substantially coating the surfaces with the agent. Conveniently the agent is liquid and accordingly application to such equipment is simply achievable by submerging the equipment in the liquid, pouring the liquid over all surfaces, applying the liquid with a sponge/cloth or the like, and/or injecting the liquid through passageways of the equipment. Where the disinfecting agent is a gas, suitable application methods for gases are employed, such as fogging. The disinfecting agent may also conveniently be provided in the form of foam spray.

It will be appreciated that the above described method of treating water sports equipment would also be suitable for other purposes such as disinfection of equipment of the armed forces, rescue services, medical or fire fighting services such as breathing equipment, for example, breathing apparatus including regulators, hoses and masks, rebreathers and life support devices, whether that equipment is used in water or otherwise. For example, fire-fighters often use breathing apparatus so that they are able to breathe whilst in a smoke/fume filled area. Any parts of the breathing apparatus which is/are in communication with the mouth/nose of an individual wearing that apparatus, such as a mask and the hose(s) leading to the gas cylinder(s), inevitably become moist in use due to exhaled air.

Such a moist environment encourages microbial growth. Thus, according to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of treating breathing equipment, whether used in water or otherwise, the method being that hereinbefore described with reference to water sports equipment.

The disinfecting agent preferably used in the methods of the present invention is a gas or a liquid and is safe for human consumption, inhalation and for contacting human skin. Disinfecting agents are known by those skilled in the art which are non-irritants and are safe for consumption and inhalation. Any suitable disinfecting agent may be used, preferably a chlorinating agent such as chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorate, sodium hypochlorite. Conveniently the chlorinating agent used is a chlorine dioxide solution which is particularly advantageous since it is non-corrosive and thus is suitable for use with all types of equipment including equipment composed of stainless steel. Preferably the chlorine dioxide solution has a strength in the range 1 ppm to 50 ppm, most preferably Sppm. The disinfecting agent may be provided at a higher concentration for subsequent dilution with water to the appropriate strength for use, as required. That agent at that strength advantageously is an effective disinfectant, is relatively inexpensive, yet is safe for inhalation, consumption and is a non-irritant and non-corrosive.

The length of time required to effectively disinfect the equipment depends upon the type and strength of disinfecting agent used. Simple and routine tests may be performed by one skilled in the art to determine whether a particular strength and particular time period is sufficient to achieve the result of reducing the viable count of microorganisms to a safe level. Any viable count methods for testing whether the desired result has been achieved conventional in the art of microbiology may be employed such as inoculating slides, plates etc, with a dilute suspension of a swab taken from the equipment and counting the colonies which grow.

Where chlorine dioxide at a strength of 5 ppm to 50 ppm is used, ideally the equipment is exposed to the agent for at least 5 hours and most preferably at least 10 hours. After this time the percentage of viable microorganisms is minimised, and accordingly the risks of infections are substantially reduced. Most preferably the number of viable microorganisms is reduced by the method of the present invention to less than 102.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a disinfecting agent for use in the above described method of treatment of water sports equipment/breathing equipment. The agent is preferably a gas or a liquid. Preferably the disinfecting agent is a chlorinating agent such as chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorate, sodium hypochlorite. To avoid an additional rinsing and/or neutralising step, preferably the agent is used at a concentration suitable for disinfecting yet being safe for human consumption and inhalation and not being an irritant. One preferred disinfecting agent is chlorine dioxide at a concentration of between 1 and 50 ppm, most preferably approximately 5 ppm.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, it will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting example: ExamDle 1 A 1 litre bottle containing chlorine dioxide solution at a concentration of 25 ppm was diluted with four litres of water to provide five litres of chlorine dioxide solution at a strength of 5 parts per million. This solution was poured into the internal bladder, having a capacity of 2 - 5 litres, of a buoyancy control device through its exhaust valve or dump valve. The chlorine dioxide solution is retained within the bladder for approximately 10 hours.

Subsequently, the chlorine dioxide solution is drained from the internal bladder of the buoyancy control device through the dump valve. Prior to the treatment the concentration of viable microorganisms present in the bladder is approximately 107. Following the treatment of the present invention as described above, the concentration of viable microorganisms has been reduced to approximately 102.

The number of viable microorganisms may be estimated by any conventional "viable count" method known in the art of microbiology.

For example to determine the number of viable bacterial cells a very dilute suspension of a swab taken from the internal bladder may be grown on an agar plate so that single cells are spatially separated.

After three days the number of visible colonies that have developed may be counted.

It is to be understood that the example described above is by way of illustration only. Many modifications and variations are possible.

Claims (14)

1. A method of treating water sports or breathing equipment comprising the steps of: (1) applying a disinfecting agent to external surfaces and/or internal parts of said equipment; and (2) exposing said surfaces and/or parts to a disinfecting agent for a period of time.

2. A method of treatment according to claim 1, wherein the equipment has an internal cavity with at least one port in communication therewith, and the disinfecting agent is applied to the internal cavity through the or each said port.

3. A method according to claim 2 further including the step of substantially emptying the disinfecting agent from the cavity through at least one said port.

4. A method of treatment according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a sufficient quantity of disinfecting agent is passed into the internal parts to substantially fill said parts.

5. A method of treatment according to any preceding claim, wherein the disinfecting agent is a liquid.

6. A method of treatment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the disinfecting agent is a gas.

7. A method of treatment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the disinfecting agent is a foam spray.

8. A method of treatment according to any preceding claim, wherein the disinfecting agent comprises a chlorinating agent.

9. A method of treatment according to claim 8, wherein the chlorinating agent is selected from chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorate, sodium hypochlorite.

10. A method of treatment according to claim 9, wherein chlorine dioxide is used in a solution having a concentration in the range of 1 ppm to 50ppm.

11. A method of treatment according to claim 10, wherein the chlorine dioxide is provided in a solution having a concentration of Sppm.

12. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 when applied to a bladder of a buoyancy control device by introduction of a liquid said disinfecting agent through an exhaust valve or dump valve thereof.

13. A method according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described by way of example.

14. Equipment when treated by the method of any one of claims 1 to 13.