Evaluation of an automated ultraviolet radiation device for decontamination of Clostridium difficile and other healthcare-associated pathogens in hospital rooms

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 197
• Main Authors: Nerandzic, Michelle M, Cadnum, Jennifer L, Pultz, Michael J, Donskey, Curtis J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 08.07.2010; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Automation; Clostridium difficile; Clostridium difficile - drug effects; Clostridium difficile - isolation & purification; Clostridium infections; Colony Count, Microbial; Control; Cross Infection - microbiology; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Decontamination - methods; Enterococcus; Enterococcus - drug effects; Enterococcus - isolation & purification; Environmental Microbiology; Health aspects; Hospitals; Humans; Infection control; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Methods; Microbial Viability - radiation effects; Radiation sterilization; Risk factors; Safety and security measures; Staphylococcus aureus; Ultraviolet Rays; United States; United States
• ISSN: 1471-2334; 1471-2334
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-10-197

Environmental surfaces play an important role in transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens. There is a need for new disinfection methods that are effective against Clostridium difficile spores, but also safe, rapid, and automated. The Tru-D Rapid Room Disinfection device is a mobile, fully-automated room decontamination technology that utilizes ultraviolet-C irradiation to kill pathogens. We examined the efficacy of environmental disinfection using the Tru-D device in the laboratory and in rooms of hospitalized patients. Cultures for C. difficile, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) were collected from commonly touched surfaces before and after use of Tru-D. On inoculated surfaces, application of Tru-D at a reflected dose of 22,000 microWs/cm(2) for approximately 45 minutes consistently reduced recovery of C. difficile spores and MRSA by >2-3 log10 colony forming units (CFU)/cm2 and of VRE by >3-4 log10 CFU/cm(2). Similar killing of MRSA and VRE was achieved in approximately 20 minutes at a reflected dose of 12,000 microWs/cm(2), but killing of C. difficile spores was reduced. Disinfection of hospital rooms with Tru-D reduced the frequency of positive MRSA and VRE cultures by 93% and of C. difficile cultures by 80%. After routine hospital cleaning of the rooms of MRSA carriers, 18% of sites under the edges of bedside tables (i.e., a frequently touched site not easily amenable to manual application of disinfectant) were contaminated with MRSA, versus 0% after Tru-D (P < 0.001). The system required <5 minutes to set up and did not require continuous monitoring. The Tru-D Rapid Room Disinfection device is a novel, automated, and efficient environmental disinfection technology that significantly reduces C. difficile, VRE and MRSA contamination on commonly touched hospital surfaces.