Infectious disease specialists urge for the isolation facility to be sanitized before its renovation into a hotel due to the potential dangers it poses.

Last week, the new owner of "Kresty" - the KVS group of companies - announced their intention to transform the former prison complex into a public space with a hotel and restaurants. They may also repurpose the hospital where inmates were treated, and even the "infectious" wing.

The news was met with mixed reactions: sleeping, eating, and having fun in a former pre-trial detention center?! Residents of St. Petersburg recalled that tuberculosis thrived within those walls for years, and its pathogen is believed to survive there for millions of years. They decided to consult experts to see if this was true.

- The question is indeed serious, - says Doctor of Medical Sciences, immunologist, microbiologist, and specialist in particularly dangerous infections Vladislav Zhemchugov. - Before any construction work begins, it is essential to conduct sanitation treatment of all premises in the complex! The part of the project related to hygiene requirements and ensuring sanitary standards must be executed at the highest level and must be coordinated with Rospotrebnadzor and specialists in severe infections.

According to Zhemchugov, the disinfection solution will need to be applied not only to the walls and floors but also to the water supply, sewage, and ventilation systems.

- Special attention must be given to the workers who will be performing the sanitation cleaning - they must wear specialized clothing that protects against microbes, - emphasized the specialist in particularly dangerous infections. - Tuberculosis pathogens are indeed considered resilient, but not to the extent that they can survive in large quantities in buildings that have long been vacated by inmates with open forms of tuberculosis. Moreover, it is not as contagious as the plague. However, with a severely weakened immune system, anything is possible.

When turning the former pre-trial detention center into a hotel, concerns should not only be about potentially lingering tuberculosis. Photo: DOM.RF

However, there may be something even more frightening than tuberculosis within the walls of the former detention center – mold fungi. They penetrate deeply into walls and joints and, upon entering the human body, can trigger reactions that are difficult to treat.

Nevertheless, experts say that if the reconstruction process is approached wisely, everything will be fine.

- Investigating the structures for mold contamination is the initial step in any scientific restoration. In simple terms, a diagnosis needs to be made and a treatment plan established. Treatment may involve dismantling certain elements or may be limited to surface disinfection. In some cases, extensive decontamination of structures with biocides will be required. Brick is a fine-pored material where mold thrives comfortably. This material is more susceptible to contamination than, for example, concrete. However, the process of treating it with biocide is not difficult. The entire process may take up to a year. If the technology is followed, the building can be cleared of mold, allowing the next stage of restoration to commence, - explained Alexey Kharitonov, Doctor of Technical Sciences and Deputy General Director for Science at RUNIT LLC, to "KP-Petersburg."

As for the ethical aspect of the issue: how can one enjoy themselves and eat good snacks in a place where thousands of people suffered, everyone is free to make their own decision.

Given the specifics of the former pre-trial detention center buildings, which are over 130 years old, as well as the city's climate, there may be a significant amount of mold within the complex.

Photo: Alexey BULATOV. Go to the Photo Bank of KP

BY THE WAY

We sent a request to KVS regarding their intentions concerning the sanitation of the former pre-trial detention buildings. We have not yet received a response.

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