Senior Vice President UVD Robots Northborough, Massachusetts, United States
Disclosure(s):
Richard Prinz, BOR Certified: No financial relationships to disclose
Background: In recent years, newer and resurfaced pathogens are presenting challenges for healthcare facilities worldwide. Traditional cleaning and disinfecting methods are not enough, but enhanced technologies can provide additional support to promote patient safety. Though Ultraviolet C (UV-C) technology has proven to be effective, the importance of training and education is imperative in infection prevention programs.
Methods: A study replicated aerosolized severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) through use of an aerosol generator - and passed the virus through a fused silica tube containing a UV-C lamp, first without, and then with UV-C irradiation from the lamp, for a period of 2 minutes. The predictor variable was the addition of UV-C irradiation, the outcome variable was the infection rate expressed in infectious complimentary deoxyribonucleic acid SARS-CoV-2 mNeonGreen (icSARSCoV-2-mNG or mNG) in proportion to cells stained with Bisbenzimide (Hoechst) staining compound, or mNG/Hoechst, and the confounding variable was the intensity of the UV-C dose, expressed in millijoules per centimeter squared (mJ/cm2). Descriptive statistical analysis was expressed in bar graphs.
Results: Results showed that aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 without the addition of 254 nanometer (nm) UV-C irradiation for 2 minutes had an infection rate between 0.05 to 0.75 mNG/Hoechst, depending on the absolute number of cells involved. Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 with the addition of 254 nm UV-C irradiation for 2 minutes, had a consistent infection rate of 0.0 mNG/Hoechst, despite the absolute number of cells involved. In addition, a UV-C dose with an intensity of 0.42–0.51 mJ/cm2 was associated with a logarithmic reduction of 3 (or 99.9%) of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusions: This study shows a potential association between 254 nm UV-C irradiation and the inactivation of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2. This association may reshape UV-C irradiation’s role in cleaning and disinfection practices, especially against airborne SARS-CoV-2.
Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the importance of adding UV-C technology as an added layer of protection in the disinfection process for terminal cleans.
Identify the new technologies for autonomous disinfection to ensure the added layer of protection is used without adding additional labor concerns.
Understand the importance of targeted education for specific pathogens and developing a proactive approach to prevent Healthcare-associated Infections.
