Deterioration of the sanitary and microbiological state of the air when people live in hermetically closed spacecraft with an artificial environment
POTOK IN THE SPACE INDUSTRY
Problem description
In space medicine, there are a number of dangers:
01
02
The high risk of bacteria and fungi penetrating with cargo delivered to the orbital stations
The slightest deviation from the health standards set forth in SSP 50260, the International Space Station Medical Operations Requirements Document (ISS MORD), can lead to dangerous situations that can make it impossible to continue the flight.
01
Result of using the Potok equipment
Potok ensures microbiological purity and reduces the level of microbial contamination of the air in orbital stations.
In 1995,
the Potok equipment solved the problem of colonies of mold fungi in the Mir orbital space station.
In 2001,
the Potok equipment was modified according to the cosmonauts' requests, delivered to the International Space Station (ISS), and installed in the Russian segment.
In 2009,
the Potok equipment was delivered to the US segment as ordered by NASA: in one week of operation, the unit reduced the level of molds in the air to zero (tenfold contamination excess was previously recorded).
The Potok equipment has gained a good reputation from operating in space and has received the gratitude of both cosmonauts and astronauts.
02
Potok in practice
In the Russian segment of the ISS, a Potok unit has been decontaminating air since 2001 in operating mode 6 hours a day.
Result:
3-times
decrease of the average level of bacterial contamination
4-times
reduction of the maximum level of mold fungi contamination
Feedback on Potok Inter
SSC RF Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences
"The results of many years of microbiological research conducted onboard the Mir orbital space station and the International Space Station have shown that the Potok decontamination units are an effective means for ensuring biological purity and air safety. They inactivate microorganisms that form the microflora of the environment of manned spacecraft and keep the air in a normalized sanitary and microbiological state."
Head of the Microbiology of Environment and Antimicrobial Protection Laboratory Natalia Novikova
NASA, Johnson Space Center
"The results show that no fungi were detected, the bacterial levels in the air samples collected in the functional cargo unit (FCU) were good, within the established tolerance limits. Quantitative indicators are approximate, based on the data of the onboard chart comparing the growth and density of colonies made by the ISS crew. The levels of microorganisms indicated in the report were obtained after a 5-day incubation period."
Engineer of the NASA General ISS Environment Team Kimberly Prokhorov
Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of The Federal Service on Customers' Rights Protection and Human Well-being Surveillance (Russia)
To prevent the circulation of pathogens of viral infections, including COVID-19, the 15 laboratory facilities of the Institute were equipped with the Potok standalone air decontamination units.
During the whole time that the devices are working, not a single case of infection and forced self-isolation of the staff was recorded (over 200 people are working with the biomaterial to detect SARS-CoV-2).
Head of the laboratory of infections related to medical care A. V. Tutelyan
S.P. Botkin City Clinical Hospital
"Since 2007, in the 22nd surgical building of the S.P. Botkin City Clinical Hospital, the air in 25 operating and intensive care rooms in the supply ventilation and air conditioning system has been purified by the Potok equipment <...> I consider it possible to recommend its use in healthcare facilities as it increases the effectiveness of treatment, simplifies maintenance and significantly reduces operational costs".
Chief Physician Aleksey Shabunin
City Clinical Hospital No. 24
The Potok air decontamination system is easy to maintain, effective and reliable to operate, and it constantly monitors the units' performance. The lack of consumables and low power consumption can significantly reduce operating costs. During the time these systems were operating, there was a decrease in the incidence of postoperative complications and sepsis.
Chief Physician Grigory Rodoman
Scientific Research Institute of Emergency Pediatric Surgery and Traumatology
"Air sampling in the rooms where the Potok air decontamination units were operating showed there were no pathogenic microflora in the air. We believe that this indicator significantly affects the risk of infection and complications in the postoperative period. <...> We are extremely pleased that such high-quality equipment has been successfully used in our hospital for many years."
Director, Professor Leonid Roshal
Eurokappa dentistry
For all operating time of the Potok equipment, there have been no cases of postoperative infectious complications, even during an unfavorable epidemiological situation due to the outbreak of COVID-19, no one’s gotten sick in our dental clinic.
Units work around the clock and are easier to operate.
We recommend to use Potok units wherever there is a risk of spreading viruses and infections, infecting staff with nosocomial infections.
CEO D. V. Melsitova
Central Research Institute of Tuberculosis
"The Potok equipment can be used in the presence of people for decontaminating and disinfecting air in tuberculosis healthcare facilities in the laboratories, operating rooms, dressing rooms, patients' rooms, vivariums, and other units, where people work with pathogenic material."
Director, Professor, Dr. of Med. Sci. Vladislav Erokhin
Scriabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms
"In case of a single run of a highly concentrated lyophilized aerosol containing Pseudomonas fluorescens, Micrococcus luteus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, during a period of exposure of about 0.5 seconds, Potok ensures their effective, close to 100% (but not less than 99.99%, taking into account the experimental error) inactivation".
Head of Laboratory, Dr. of Biol. Sci., prof. Vitaly Duda
Scientific and practical center for medical care for children with developmental defects of the craniofacial region and congenital diseases of the nervous system
"The results of studies of sanitary and microbiological indicators regularly conducted by the Center's epidemiological service confirm the technology is effective. Bacteriological indicators of air microbial content for the entire service life did not exceed the standards established by SanPin 2.1.3.2630-10 ".
Deputy Director for Engineering A.Yu. Pundikov
N.N. Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital
"Regular microbiological studies of the air produced while Potok was operating in the rooms show that they comply with the regulations for the established classes of clean rooms. For example, in the operating unit, air microbial content did not exceed 150-200 CFU/m3 (with the standard of up to 500 CFU/m3.
Head of Sanitary and Epidemiological Department, Dr. of Med. Sci., Professor V. Akimkin
Innopolis University
"One of the key goals of the Innovation Innopolis University is ensuring comfortable and safe conditions for students . <...> We develop an effective system of integrated safety and security only when we take all factors into account. When training highly qualified personnel, it is of fundamental importance for us to use the most advanced technologies, including in the field of air decontamination — such as the Russian innovative technology Potok.
University Director Kirill Semenikhin
Moscow City SBEI School No. 686 Class-Center, Sergei Kazarnovsky
"In order to prevent the emergence of group foci of influenza and ARVI, our institution is fully implementing organizational, preventive, and anti-epidemic measures against influenza. We are grateful for the Potok advanced air decontamination equipment provided to us, which will significantly reduce the risk of sickness among students and employees."
School Principal Sergey Kazarnovsky
Director of Odintsovo Linguistic Gymnasium
"Using the Potok air decontamination equipment in our institution has allowed us to boost children's immunity, reduce virus infections, and reduce allergic reactions in children. In such a short period of time, in the classroom with the Potok equipment, the well-being of students significantly improved, sickness rates decreased, and academic performance increased."
Gymnasium Director Irina Kobzenko
Klinsky Meat Processing Plant JSC
"The problem of removing mold fungi from air has been solved (their levels in the air have decreased to the minimum values). The results of these studies allow us to conclude that Potok equipment creates the appropriate conditions for producing high-quality products, storing products, and reducing losses."
Head of Quality Management Department Yulia Aleinikova
Wimm-Bill-Dann OJSC (PepsiCo)
"Based on the results of more than three years of operation, we recommend Potok for use in food production as an effective solution that ensures the air in food packing, filling, and sorting rooms is biologically clean."
Chief Engineer Sergey Korol
PRODO Permskaya Poultry Farm JSC
"Comparing air contamination levels before and after the start of the decontamination system showed that it reduces the microorganism concentration by 75-91%. We confirm that Potok can:
- increase the shelf life of products,
- decrease product returns from stores,
- increase deliveries of poultry farm products to the regions."
Director Nikolai Roshak
Probiotic+ LLC
The main result of using the Potok equipment is the significant improvement in the quality of products manufactured by Probiotic+ LLC. The mold and yeast levels of sour-milk products improved significantly."
General Director Anton Slepikhin
Khleb Nasushchny bakery
"Based on the research, using the unit has decreased the risks of microbial contamination of perishable food, and therefore we can recommend Potok equipment for decontaminating the air and solving the problems of air pollution in processing areas."
Director for Quality Lyudmila Zvyagina
MPF Bogorodsky LLC
"The problem of air decontamination has been solved. The air indicators dropped to 0 CFU/cm2 <...> we recommend Potok for use in food production as an effective solution that ensures air is biologically pure."
Deputy General Director for Industrialization Airat Taktarov
URALSIB insurance group
"The experience of using the Potok equipment in the office showed its efficiency corresponding to the parameters stated by the manufacturer. Air decontamination units are easy to operate, do not interfere with employees' work. Potok equipment decrease in the incidence of airbone infectious diseases".
Head of Private line of business Department N.V.Kharina
Les Trois Santes fitness club
"An air decontamination unit located in the largest hall of group programs allowed us to enter one more important point into the list of our competitive advantages! This unit is safe, noiseless and efficient! Customers note the air freshness, resulting in a pleasant feeling during the training process and in the increased efficiency of training"
Service manager Julia Lazarevich
01
Healthcare
Prevention of nosocomial infections, incl. COVID-19, and control of antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms
02
Food industry
Increase in biosafety of products' production process, products shelf life, and sales territory
03
Education
Reducing the respiratory incidence of children and world's and households' economic damage by them
04
Space Industry
Ensuring clean air in the International Space Station, in the Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency) and NASA segments
05
Other areas
The decrease in the rates of illness among office people, guests of sports centers, hotels, stores and the economic losses caused by staff taking sick leaves
01
Healthcare
Prevention of nosocomial infections, incl. COVID-19, and control of antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms
02
Food industry
Increase in biosafety of products' production process, products shelf life, and sales territory