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UV devices decontaminate CT tables
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Study findings showed that UV devices can capably reduce pathogens on CT patient tables, and researchers said the devices “could provide an effective and efficient adjunct to manual cleaning in radiology procedure rooms.”
“Many UV decontamination devices are now available in the United States,” Curtis J. Donskey, MD, professor of medicine at Case Western University and staff physician at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, told Infectious Disease News. “Studies comparing the effectiveness of these devices are needed because it is difficult for infection control programs to sort through all the competing claims made by manufacturers.”
Donskey and colleagues evaluated four standard vertical tower low-pressure mercury devices, one pulsed-xenon device and three nonstandard low-pressure mercury devices. The nonstandard devices included either adjustable bulbs that could be moved directly over the exam table, a robotic base that would allow movement alongside the table or three vertical towers that could be operated simultaneously.
According to the study, the low-pressure mercury devices produced primarily UV-C light, the pulsed-xenon device produced primarily UV-A and UV-B light, and all of the devices had a 4-minute UV exposure time.
Donskey and colleagues placed steel disk carriers at five sites on CT patient tables and compared the efficacy of the UV devices in reducing MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and Clostridioides difficile spores.
They observed 2 log10CFU or greater reductions in VRE and MRSA and approximately 1 log10CFU reductions in C. difficile spores using the four standard devices. Comparatively, the three nonstandard devices achieved equal or greater reductions in pathogen recovery, whereas the pulse-xenon device resulted in less pathogen reduction (P < .001).
Additionally, the devices took less than 1 minute to set up and begin a UV cycle.
“Our findings demonstrated that several UV room decontamination devices were similarly effective in reducing pathogens in a radiology procedure room,” Donskey said. “Our results also suggest that improved efficacy may be achieved with modifications to increase proximity of UV bulbs to contaminated sites.” – by Marley Ghizzone
Disclosures: Donskey reports receiving research funding from Avery Dennison, Boehringer Laboratories, Clorox, GOJO and Pfizer. All other authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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