Reduction of Hospital Environmental Contamination Using Automatic UV Room Disinfection

Abstract

The use of mobile ultraviolet (UV) germicidal irradiation has been documented to reduce contamination levels and HAIs in hospitals. However, there is a general lack of information on the efficacy of wall-mounted, automated UV systems that are designed to irradiate rooms whenever they are left unoccupied. In this study, the Aseptix 1 UVC device (which includes two motion detectors, a magnetic door contact, and a microprocessor programmed to deliver a five-minute dose of UVC when the room is empty and the door closed) was evaluated. The number of contaminated surfaces decreased by approximately 65% overall and this was found to be a statistically significant result at a 95% confidence level. During periods when the UV systems were de-activated, the frequency of contaminated surfaces immediately reverted to the prior rate (within 24 hours). In addition, airborne contamination dropped by approximately 40%. However, there is less statistical confidence in this result due to fewer samples and more variability inherent in the settle plate method used.