tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Viruses
. 2021 Nov 26;13(12):2367.
doi: 10.3390/v13122367.
Clinical Application of Ultraviolet C Inactivation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Contaminated Hospital Environments
Wen-Lin Su[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Chih-Pei Lin[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Hui-Ching Huang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yao-Kuang Wu[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Mei-Chen Yang[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Sheg-Kang Chiu[SUP] 2 4 5 [/SUP], Ming-Yieh Peng[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Ming-Chin Chan[SUP] 5 [/SUP], You-Chen Chao[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
To overcome the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, transmission routes, such as healthcare worker infection, must be effectively prevented. Ultraviolet C (UVC) (254 nm) has recently been demonstrated to prevent environmental contamination by infected patients; however, studies on its application in contaminated hospital settings are limited. Herein, we explored the clinical application of UVC and determined its optimal dose. Environmental samples (n = 267) collected in 2021 were analyzed by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and subjected to UVC irradiation for different durations (minutes). We found that washbasins had a high contamination rate (45.5%). SARS-CoV-2 was inactivated after 15 min (estimated dose: 126 mJ/cm[SUP]2[/SUP]) of UVC irradiation, and the contamination decreased from 41.7% before irradiation to 16.7%, 8.3%, and 0% after 5, 10, and 15 min of irradiation, respectively (p = 0.005). However, SARS-CoV-2 was still detected in washbasins after irradiation for 20 min but not after 30 min (252 mJ/cm[SUP]2[/SUP]). Thus, 15 min of 254-nm UVC irradiation was effective in cleaning plastic, steel, and wood surfaces in the isolation ward. For silicon items, such as washbasins, 30 min was suggested; however, further studies using hospital environmental samples are needed to confirm the effective UVC inactivation of SARS-CoV-2.
Keywords: 254 nm Ultraviolet C; COVID-19; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; environmental sampling.
. 2021 Nov 26;13(12):2367.
doi: 10.3390/v13122367.
Clinical Application of Ultraviolet C Inactivation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Contaminated Hospital Environments
Wen-Lin Su[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Chih-Pei Lin[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Hui-Ching Huang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yao-Kuang Wu[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Mei-Chen Yang[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Sheg-Kang Chiu[SUP] 2 4 5 [/SUP], Ming-Yieh Peng[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Ming-Chin Chan[SUP] 5 [/SUP], You-Chen Chao[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34960637
- DOI: 10.3390/v13122367
Abstract
To overcome the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, transmission routes, such as healthcare worker infection, must be effectively prevented. Ultraviolet C (UVC) (254 nm) has recently been demonstrated to prevent environmental contamination by infected patients; however, studies on its application in contaminated hospital settings are limited. Herein, we explored the clinical application of UVC and determined its optimal dose. Environmental samples (n = 267) collected in 2021 were analyzed by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and subjected to UVC irradiation for different durations (minutes). We found that washbasins had a high contamination rate (45.5%). SARS-CoV-2 was inactivated after 15 min (estimated dose: 126 mJ/cm[SUP]2[/SUP]) of UVC irradiation, and the contamination decreased from 41.7% before irradiation to 16.7%, 8.3%, and 0% after 5, 10, and 15 min of irradiation, respectively (p = 0.005). However, SARS-CoV-2 was still detected in washbasins after irradiation for 20 min but not after 30 min (252 mJ/cm[SUP]2[/SUP]). Thus, 15 min of 254-nm UVC irradiation was effective in cleaning plastic, steel, and wood surfaces in the isolation ward. For silicon items, such as washbasins, 30 min was suggested; however, further studies using hospital environmental samples are needed to confirm the effective UVC inactivation of SARS-CoV-2.
Keywords: 254 nm Ultraviolet C; COVID-19; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; environmental sampling.