Impact of daily disinfection of portable equipment and common areas with a prototype handheld far ultraviolet-C light device on transmission of a DNA marker and bacteriophage MS2 on a long-term care ward.

BACKGROUND

Shared portable medical equipment is a vector for transmission of health care-associated pathogens, but cleaning and disinfection of equipment is often suboptimal.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-over trial on a long-term care facility ward to determine the impact of daily low-level disinfection of portable equipment and common areas using a handheld far ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light device versus standard cleaning and disinfection practices. The primary outcome was transmission of a DNA marker and bacteriophage MS2 from inoculated portable vital signs equipment to surfaces on the ward. Contamination of equipment and common areas with health care-associated pathogens was a secondary outcome.

RESULTS

During the control period, the DNA marker and bacteriophage MS2 disseminated widely to portable equipment, the nursing station, and resident rooms. The far UV-C disinfection intervention was associated with a significant reduction in DNA marker contamination of surfaces in comparison to the control period (odds ratio [OR] = 0.07, 95% CI 0.03-0.13; P < .001) and nonsignificant reductions in bacteriophage MS2 contamination (OR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.14-1.24; P = .12) and recovery of pathogenic microorganisms (OR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.18, 1.10; P = .08).

CONCLUSIONS

Daily low-level disinfection of portable equipment and common areas using a far UV-C light technology could be an alternative to the use of disinfectant wipes.