Evaluation of an automated ultraviolet radiation device for decontamination of Clostridium difficile and other healthcare-associated pathogens in hospital rooms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Environmental surfaces play an important role in transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens. There is a need for new disinfection methods that are effective against <it>Clostridium difficile </it>spores, but also safe, rapid, and automated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Tru-D™ Rapid Room Disinfection device is a mobile, fully-automated room decontamination technology that utilizes ultraviolet-C irradiation to kill pathogens. We examined the efficacy of environmental disinfection using the Tru-D device in the laboratory and in rooms of hospitalized patients. Cultures for <it>C. difficile</it>, methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant <it>Enterococcus </it>(VRE) were collected from commonly touched surfaces before and after use of Tru-D.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>On inoculated surfaces, application of Tru-D at a reflected dose of 22,000 μWs/cm²for ~45 minutes consistently reduced recovery of <it>C. difficile </it>spores and MRSA by >2-3 log₁₀colony forming units (CFU)/cm²and of VRE by >3-4 log₁₀CFU/cm². Similar killing of MRSA and VRE was achieved in ~20 minutes at a reflected dose of 12,000 μWs/cm², but killing of <it>C. difficile </it>spores was reduced. Disinfection of hospital rooms with Tru-D reduced the frequency of positive MRSA and VRE cultures by 93% and of <it>C. difficile </it>cultures by 80%. After routine hospital cleaning of the rooms of MRSA carriers, 18% of sites under the edges of bedside tables (i.e., a frequently touched site not easily amenable to manual application of disinfectant) were contaminated with MRSA, versus 0% after Tru-D (<it>P </it>< 0.001). The system required <5 minutes to set up and did not require continuous monitoring.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The Tru-D Rapid Room Disinfection device is a novel, automated, and efficient environmental disinfection technology that significantly reduces <it>C. difficile</it>, VRE and MRSA contamination on commonly touched hospital surfaces.</p

Are reduced concentrations of chlorine-based disinfectants effective against Candida auris?

Chlorine-based disinfectants are commonly used in rooms of patients with Candida auris, but there is uncertainty regarding optimal concentrations that provide efficacy while minimizing the potential for adverse effects. We found that 2 chlorine-based disinfectants were effective against C auris with 1 minute of contact time at concentrations of 4,000 parts per million or higher. Lower concentrations were effective only with increased contact times that may not be practical in real-world health care settings

Efficacy of a multi-purpose high level disinfection cabinet against Candida auris and other health care-associated pathogen

•Portable equipment is a source for pathogen dissemination.•We tested a high-level disinfection cabinet for small devices.•The technology disperses droplets of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide.•The disinfection cabinet was effective against multiple organisms•Candida auris was eliminated from inoculated equipment Portable equipment and other small devices used in health care are a potential source for dissemination of pathogens. We demonstrated that a high-level disinfection cabinet using ultrasonic submicron droplets of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide was effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridiodes difficile spores, the nonenveloped virus bacteriophage MS2, and Candida auris on steel disk carriers. The device also eliminated Candida auris inoculated on real-world items of portable equipment