VAH. Simply be safe.
Quality assurance in disinfection.
VAH: Association of Applied Hygiene.
The objectives.
The Association of Applied Hygiene aims to provide safe and easy guidance for the selection and use of chemical disinfectants. It publishes a List of Disinfectants as a reference and it develops and publishes methods for efficacy testing of antiseptics and disinfectants.
VAH Facts
In brief:
A story of success.
The Association of Applied Hygiene (VAH) was founded on November 11, 2003. Its purpose is to consolidate competence in applied hygiene.
Membership.
VAH brings together individual experts as well as Scientific Societies and Professional Associations in the areas of hygiene and infection prevention, public health, and infectiology.
Promotion.
VAH promotes a scientific approach while taking into consideration all aspects of practical application in the study and implementation of infection control issues and measures. This includes the elaboration of test protocols and evaluation standards for decontamination, disinfection, antisepsis and sterilization procedures.
Education.
In addition, VAH takes a special interest in organizing lectures and meetings for advanced education in the field of applied hygiene.
News.
Read the latest research on this topic in Journal of Hospital Infection:
Gebel J, Gemein S, Kampf G, Pidot SJ, Buetti N, Exner M.
Isopropanol at 60% and at 70% are effective against “isopropanol-tolerant” E. faecium.
Disinfection, sterilization, and antisepsis: An overview.
Rutala WA1, Weber DJ2.
Am J Infect Control. 2019 Jun;47S:A3-A9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.01.018.
Best practices for disinfection of noncritical environmental surfaces and equipment in health care facilities: A bundle approach.
Rutala WA1, Weber DJ2.
Am J Infect Control. 2019 Jun;47S:A96-A105. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.01.014.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Solid Organ Transplantation - Guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice.
Pereira MR1, Rana MM2; AST ID Community of Practice.
Clin Transplant. 2019 May 23:e13611. doi: 10.1111/ctr.13611. [Epub ahead of print]
VAH interlaboratory trials: VAH has organised an interlaboratory test with E. hirae according to EN 13727 which will take place between 17th June and 16th August of 2019. Please contact Dr. Stefanie Gemein at vah-ringtrial@ukbonn.de for further information on interlaboratory trials.
The European Standard EN 16777:2018 was published in December 2018: Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics - Quantitative non-porous surface test without mechanical action for the evaluation of virucidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in the medical area - Test method and requirements (phase 2, step 2).
• The European Standard EN 17126:2018, quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of sporicidal activity of chemical disinfectants in the medical area – test method and requirements (phase 2, step 1) was published in December of 2018 and is now available for purchase. Also see VAH methods 18 and 19 concerning testing sporicidal activity.
• The European Standard EN 17111:2018 – quantitative carrier test for the evaluation of virucidal activity for instruments used in the medical area (phase 2, step 2) – test methods and requirements has been published.