Impact of a UV-C Multiemitter Disinfection System on Hospital Environmental Bioburden and Inactivation of Clinically...

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Hospital infection control
• Disinfection technologies

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a major hospital challenge, especially in critical care settings.
• The hospital environment, including air and surfaces, harbors microorganisms that contribute to infection spread.
• Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UV-C) is increasingly used as a supplementary disinfection method.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the disinfection efficacy of a 254 nm multiemitter UV-C system.
• To assess the system's performance under both in situ (real-world hospital) and in vitro (laboratory) conditions.
• To determine the impact of UV-C on airborne and surface microbial contamination in critical hospital areas.

Main Methods:

• A 254 nm UV-C multiemitter system was deployed in eight epidemiologically relevant hospital areas.
• Air and surface samples were collected before and after UV-C disinfection cycles.
• Aerobiome quantified (CFU/m³), surfaces characterized (MALDI-TOF MS), and in vitro assays performed against planktonic and biofilm cultures (ESKAPE pathogens, C. albicans).

Main Results:

• UV-C achieved >91.5% mean reduction in airborne microbes, with complete elimination in some zones.
• Surface contamination decreased by 96.1%, with total disinfection at several points.
• In vitro tests showed ≥99.99% elimination of planktonic microbes and complete viability loss in mature biofilms.

Conclusions:

• The 254 nm UV-C multiemitter system significantly reduces the microbial burden in critical hospital environments.
• This technology supports integration into infection prevention programs to enhance environmental biosafety.
• UV-C disinfection effectively controls microbial sources involved in hospital-acquired infection transmission.