This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
PX-UV light reduces aerobic bacteria in hospital rooms
Pulsed xenon ultraviolet light systems effectively disinfected aerobic bacteria in the absence of manual disinfection, according to research published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
“Surface contamination has been shown to play a significant role in the acquisition of hospital-acquired infections,” Chetan Jinadatha, MD, MPH, assistant professor at Texas A&M University, and colleagues wrote. “These data are important for hospitals that plan to adapt this technology as adjunct to routine manual disinfection and alleviate any fears that adapting this technology may actually harm patients because Environmental Management Services personnel may miss surfaces.”
The researchers said their study of pulsed xenon ultraviolet light (PX-UV) disinfection systems in 38 recently vacated rooms at a Veterans Affairs facility in Temple, Texas, was different than their past research in that it used the technology before manual cleaning was undertaken. The robotic, no-touch disinfection device works by shooting a spectrum of bacteria-killing UV light throughout the room. The rooms had been occupied for at least 2 days, and PX-UV surface samples were collected before and after occupation.
Figure 1. A new UV light method for cleaning hospital rooms could help stop the spread of dangerous bacteria on call buttons, bedrails and more.
Source:Texas A&M Health Science Center
The overall mean aerobic bacterial colony (ABC) count across all 190 samples collected before PX-UV disinfection was 73.6 (95% CI, 63.8-83.4). The surface with the greatest ABC count was the bedside call button, with a mean of 88.5 (95% CI, 66.7-110.3), followed by the bedrail (84; 95% CI, 61.6-106.4). Other surfaces studied included tray tables — which had the lowest mean ABC count before PX-UV disinfection — and bathroom handrails and toilet seats.
After PX-UV disinfection, the call button had the greatest mean ABC count reduction of 72.4 (P < .01). All of these high-touch surfaces showed a significant reduction in ABC count, with an overall mean reduction of 53.8 (P < .01).
Overall, 98.4% of the surfaces were contaminated with aerobic bacteria before the disinfection; surface contamination was reduced by 9.6% after PX-UV disinfection.
The researchers cited a study by Huang and colleagues, which showed a 40% increased odds of transmission for MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci if the room’s previous occupant was positive for either antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Jinadatha and colleagues said results of their PX-UV disinfection study were similar to studies testing mercury-based UV disinfection systems for reduction of ABC counts in hospital settings.
“A typical 100-bed hospital sees about 10 to 20 hospital-acquired infections a year,” Jinadatha said in a press release. “Our goal is to get to zero infections.” – by David Jwanier
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.