Comparing and optimizing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems use for patient room terminal disinfection: an exploratory study using radiometry and commercial test cards

Vincent Masse; Michael J Hartley; Michael B Edmond; Daniel J Diekema

doi:10.1186/s13756-018-0317-1

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Comparing and optimizing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems use for patient room terminal disinfection: an exploratory study using radiometry and commercial test cards

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Comparing and optimizing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems use for patient room terminal disinfection: an exploratory study using radiometry and commercial test cards

Vincent Masse, Michael J Hartley, Michael B Edmond and Daniel J Diekema

Antimicrobial resistance & infection control, Vol.7(1), pp.29-29

2018

DOI: 10.1186/s13756-018-0317-1

PMCID: PMC5824448

PMID: 29484174

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Abstract

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems are gaining popularity, however objective comparisons of their characteristics are lacking. While environmental cultures and reduction of hospital-associated infections rates are excellent study endpoints, they are impractical for centers with limited resources who want to compare or optimize UVGI systems use. We evaluated radiometry and commercial test cards, two simple and low cost tools, to compare 2 full size UVGI systems (Tru-D and Optimum-UV Enlight) and 2 small units (Lumalier EDU 435 and MRSA-UV Turbo-UV). Radiometry-derived output curves show that if both large devices emit enough energy to reach lethal doses at 10 ft, the reduction in output in distance is almost perfectly logarithmic. In a patient room environment, Enlight and Tru-D performed similarly when compared using radiometry and commercial test cards. The two small devices reached range around the bathroom with the device raised above the floor, but longer times are needed. Despite different workflows and price points, no clear superiority emerges between Tru-D and Enlight. Bathroom disinfection should be dealt with separately from the main room and small, cheaper units can be used. Radiometry and commercial test cards are promising ways to compare UVGI systems, but further validation is needed using correlation with environmental cultures. Not applicable.

Infection Control - instrumentation

Cross Infection - prevention & control

Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology

Infection Control - methods

Spores, Bacterial - radiation effects

Environment, Controlled

Regression Analysis

Ultraviolet Rays

Disinfection - instrumentation

Disinfection - methods

Clostridium difficile - radiation effects

Radiometry - methods

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation

Equipment and Supplies - microbiology

Patients' Rooms

Details

Title: Subtitle: Comparing and optimizing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems use for patient room terminal disinfection: an exploratory study using radiometry and commercial test cards
Creators: Vincent Masse - 2Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec Canada
Michael J Hartley - 3Department of Hospital Administration, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA USA
Michael B Edmond - 4Office of Clinical Quality Safety and Performance Improvement, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA USA
Daniel J Diekema - 5Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Antimicrobial resistance & infection control, Vol.7(1), pp.29-29
DOI: 10.1186/s13756-018-0317-1
PMID: 29484174
PMCID: PMC5824448
NLM abbreviation: Antimicrob Resist Infect Control
ISSN: 2047-2994
eISSN: 2047-2994
Publisher: England
Language: English
Date published: 2018
Academic Unit: Infectious Diseases; Pathology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983986267202771

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