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STERILIZATION & INFECTION PREVENTION
Postpandemic applicability, usage of UV disinfection technology
BY DR TRA VU
he COVID-19 pandemic highlighted
the importance of proper
disinfection to manage and contain
the spread of the disease. During
the pandemic, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection
technology played an important role
in safeguarding public health and combatting
COVID-19.
T
Various uses of UV technology have
become available on the market and
can be broken down by:
* UVC radiation, which falls in the
range of 200 to 280 nanometers
(nm), is germicidal, and damages
the genetic material of microorganisms,
preventing their replication
and survival
* various UV sources, including lowand
medium-pressure mercury UV
lamps, UV light-emitting diodes (UVLEDs),
and far-UVC radiating excimer
and microplasma lamps; these emit
different wavelengths of UVC radiation,
with some being more effective
for certain applications
* UV disinfection as an energy-based
process; the effectiveness of disinfection
is determined by the applied
UV dose, measured in millijoules per
square centimeter. UV dose is calculated
by multiplying the irradiance by
the exposure time.
The susceptibility of microorganisms
to UV disinfection varies based on factors
such as their genetic material, molecular
weight, surface properties, and
repair mechanisms. The effectiveness
of UV disinfection can be influenced by
factors such as the type of surface, humidity
levels, and the presence of particles
or dust in the air. Biofilms, which
are aggregations of microorganisms,
can also affect UV disinfection.
While specific UV doses required for
COVID-19 disinfection are still being
studied, the virus appears to be moderately
sensitive to UV radiation, similar
to other viruses like the influenza
virus. During the pandemic, common
applicability of UV disinfection technology
in healthcare was focused on per6
OR
Manager | October 2023
sonal protective equipment, which was
in short supply, and in patient rooms.
Disinfection challenges postpandemic
Because
of its germicidal properties,
ease of implementation, and minimal
health and environmental risks, the
popularity of UV disinfection technology
has been growing. It was widely
adopted in healthcare and long-term
care facilities, educational institutions,
airports, public transportation systems,
and other high-traffic areas.
Its nontoxic
nature and ability to reach all surfaces
made it an attractive option for
complementing traditional disinfection
practices.
An April 2023 article in the Independent
warns that the next global pandemic
is not a matter of if but when.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director
general of the World Health Organization,
recently stated that the world
must be prepared for future pandemics
and other threats: " The threat of another
variant emerging that causes new
surges of disease and death remains,
and the threat of another pathogen
emerging with even deadlier potential
remains. "
There have already been several
health crises. One example is the
'tripledemic,' which refers to the combination
of respiratory syncytial virus
(RSV), seasonal flu, and COVID-19, that
peaked in the fall and winter months
of this past year. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), the hospitalization rate for all
three infections was 22.5 admissions
per 100,000 in December 2022.
Another example is the emerging
threat of the antimicrobial-resistant fungus
Candida auris in the US. In a March
2023 news release, the CDC reported
that it had spread at an alarming rate
in US healthcare facilities in 2020 and
2021. Poor general infection prevention
and control practices in healthcare
facilities were cited as one possible reason
behind the alarming trend. These
threats raise concerns about disinfection
practices in healthcare facilities
and public domains.
One such concern is manpower.
A 2022 report from Tulane University
School of Public Health and Tropical
Medicine, New Orleans, notes that
more than 20% of hospitals in the US
are understaffed. Included in that are
high-turnover rates of environmental
health service employees. In addition,
maintaining large-scale disinfection
practices is costly, and governments,
companies, and individuals may be less
inclined to spend on disinfection postpandemic.
Moving
forward
Being prepared is the key to preventing
the next pandemic disaster. To do this,
hospitals must adopt comprehensive
strategies that focus on prevention and
response. Thorough disinfection practices
need to be verifiable to ensure
that spaces are genuinely safe. This
can be achieved through regular audits
and the incorporation of advanced monitoring
technologies that assess disinfection
efficacy.
UV disinfection has been a validated
technology for the disinfection of pathogens
on surfaces, as well as in air and
water, for several decades. New research
and technological advancements
are primed to put UV disinfection back
into the spotlight. For example, autonomous
UVC disinfection robots have the
potential to address staffing challenges
and provide consistent and reliable disinfection.
Insights into the use of Far
UVC radiation (ie, electromagnetic radiation)
also have contributed a novel
means of tackling airborne pathogens in
a noninvasive and environmentally safe
fashion.
McGinn and associates in the School
of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin in
Ireland, conducted a study in two hospital
radiology departments that showed
a UV robot was able to disinfect a room
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