UVC Dosimeter Research
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Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (2021), 1–6
Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) monitoring made simple: Colorimetric indicators to assess delivery of UV-C light by room decontamination devices
Jennifer L. Cadnum BS1, Basya S. Pearlmutter BS1, Sarah N. Redmond BS2, Annette L. Jencson CIC1,
Kevin J. Benner BS3 and Curtis J. Donskey MD2,4
ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the use of colorimetric indicators for monitoring ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light delivery to sites in patient rooms.
Methods: In laboratory testing, we examined the correlation between changes in color of 2 commercial colorimetric indicators and log10 reductions in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridioides difficile spores with exposure to increasing doses of UV-C from a low-pressure mercury room decontamination device. In patient rooms, 1 of the colorimetric indicators was used to assess UV-C dose delivery to 27 sites in the room.
Results: In laboratory testing, the manufacturer’s reference colors for MRSA and C. difficile reduction corresponded with doses of ∼10,000 and 46,000 μJ/cm2; these doses resulted in >3 log10 reductions in MRSA and C. difficile spores, respectively. In patient rooms, the colorimetric indicators demonstrated suboptimal delivery of UV-C dosing to shadowed areas, which was improved by providing cycles on each side of the patient bed rather than in a single position and altering device placement. Increasing duration of exposure increased the number of sites achieving adequate dosing to kill C. difficile spores.
Conclusions: Commercial colorimetric indicators provide rapid and easy-to-interpret information on the UV-C dose delivered to sites in patient rooms. The indicators may be useful for training environmental services personnel and optimizing the effectiveness of UV-C room decontamination devices.
(Received 3 November 2020; accepted 5 March 2021)
Quantitative UV-C dose validation with photochromic indicators for informed N95 emergency decontamination
Alison Su, Samantha M. Grist, Alisha Geldert, Anjali Gopal, Amy E. Herr
ABSTRACT
With COVID-19 N95 shortages, frontline medical personnel are forced to reuse this disposable – but sophisticated–multilayer respirator. Widely used to decontaminate nonporous surfaces, UV-C light has demonstrated germicidal efficacy on porous, non-planar N95 respirators when all surfaces receive >1.0 J/cm2 dose. Of utmost importance across disciplines, translation of empirical evidence to implementation relies upon UV-C measurements frequently confounded by radiometer complexities. To enable rigorous on-respirator measurements, we introduce a photochromic indicator dose quantification technique for: (1) UV-C treatment design and (2) in-process UV-C dose validation. While addressing outstanding indicator limitations of qualitative readout and insufficient dynamic range, our methodology establishes that color-changing dosimetry can achieve the necessary accuracy (>90%), uncertainty (<10%), and UV-C specificity (>95%) required for UV-C dose measurements. In a measurement infeasible with radiometers, we observe a striking ~20× dose variation over N95s within one decontamination system. Furthermore, we adapt consumer electronics for accessible quantitative readout and use optical attenuators to extend indicator dynamic range >10× to quantify doses relevant for N95 decontamination. By transforming photochromic indicators into quantitative dosimeters, we illuminate critical considerations for both photochromic indicators themselves and UV-C decontamination processes.
222 nm Far-UVC from Filtered Krypton-Chloride Excimer Lamps does not Cause Eye Irritation when Deployed in a Simulated Office Environment
Obaid Kousha, Paul O’Mahoney, Robert Hammond, Kenneth Wood, Ewan Eadie
PUBLISHED: April 2023
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ABSTRACT
Ultraviolet-C decontamination of a hospital room: Amount of UV light needed
Marie Lindblad, Eva Tano, Claes Lindahl, Fredrik Huss
PUBLISHED: June 2020
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ABSTRACT
Our primary aim was to investigate, using a commercial radiometer, the ultraviolet C (UVC) dose received in different areas in a burn ICU ward room after an automated UVC decontamination. The secondary aim was to validate a disposable UVC-dose indicator with the radiometer readings.
Methods
Disposable indicators and an electronic radiometer were positioned in ten different positions in a burn ICU room. The room was decontaminated using the Tru-D™-UVC device. Colour changes of the disposable indicators and radiometer readings were noted and compared. Experiment was repeated 10 times.
Findings
The UVC radiation received in different areas varied between 15.9 mJ/cm2 and 1068 mJ/cm2 (median 266 mJ/cm2). Surfaces, at shorter distances and in the direct line of sight of the UVC device showed statistically significant higher UVC doses than surfaces in the shadow of equipment (p = 0.019). The UVC-dose indicator’s colour change corresponded with the commercially radiometer readings.
Conclusions
The amount of UVC radiation that is received in surfaces depends on their locations in the room (ie distance from the UVC emitter) and whether any objects shadow the light. In this study we suggest that quality controls should be used to assure that enough UVC radiation reaches all surfaces.
Evaluation of Ultraviolet-C Light for Rapid Decontamination of Airport Security Bins in the Era of SARS-CoV-2
Jennifer Cadnum, Daniel F. Li, Lucas D. Jones, Sarah N. Redmond, Basya Pearlmutter, Brigid Wilson, Curtis J. Donskey
Published: May 2022
ABSTRACT
Background: Contaminated surfaces are a potential source for spread of respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light is effective against RNA and DNA viruses and could be useful for decontamination of high-touch fomites that are shared by multiple users.
Methods: A modification of the American Society for Testing and Materials standard quantitative carrier disk test method (ASTM E-2197-11) was used to examine the effectiveness of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light for rapid decontamination of plastic airport security bins inoculated at 3 sites with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and bacteriophages MS2, PhiX174, and Phi6, an enveloped RNA virus used as a surrogate for coronaviruses. Three log10 reductions on inoculated plastic bins were considered effective for decontamination.
Results: UV-C light administered as 10-, 20-, or 30-second cycles in proximity to a plastic bin reduced contamination on each of the test sites, including vertical and horizontal surfaces. The 30-second cycle met criteria for decontamination of all 3 test sites for all the test organisms except bacteriophage MS2 which was reduced by greater than 2 log10 PFU at each site.
Conclusions: UV-C light is an attractive technology for rapid decontamination of airport security bins. Further work is needed to evaluate the utility of UV-C light in real-world settings and to develop methods to provide automated movement of bins through a UV-C decontamination process.
Effectiveness of Ultraviolet-C Light and a High-Level Disinfection Cabinet for Decontamination of N95 Respirators
Jennifer L. Cadnum, Daniel Li, Sarah N. Redmond, Amrita R. John, Basya Pearlmutter, Curtis Donskey
Published: May 2, 2020
ABSTRACT
Background – Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) including N95 filtering facepiece respirators is an urgent concern in the setting of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Decontamination of PPE could be useful to maintain adequate supplies, but there is uncertainty regarding the efficacy of decontamination technologies.
Methods – A modification of the American Society for Testing and Materials standard quantitative carrier disk test method (ASTM E-2197-11) was used to examine the effectiveness of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light, a high-level disinfection cabinet that generates aerosolized peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, and dry heat at 70°C for 30 minutes for decontamination of bacteriophages Phi6 and MS2 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) inoculated onto 3 commercial N95 respirators. Three and 6 log10 reductions on N95 respirators were considered effective for decontamination and disinfection, respectively.
Results – UV-C administered as a 1-minute cycle in a UV-C box or a 30-minute cycle by a room decontamination device reduced contamination but did not meet criteria for decontamination of the viruses from all sites for any of the N95s. The high-level disinfection cabinet was effective for decontamination of all the organisms from the N95s and achieved disinfection with 3 disinfection cycles over ~60 minutes. Dry heat at 70°C for 30 minutes was not effective for decontamination of the bacteriophages.
Conclusions – UV-C could be useful to reduce contamination on N95 respirators. However, the UV-C technologies studied did not meet our criteria for decontamination under the test conditions used. The high-level disinfection cabinet was effective for decontamination of N95s and met criteria for disinfection with multiple cycles.