Issue 8, 2020

Characterization of a commercially-available, low-pressure UV lamp as a disinfection system for decontamination of common nosocomial pathogens on N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) material

Abstract

A commercially-available UV surface disinfection system used for hospital room disinfection was characterized for use as a UV-inactivation system for N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) respirators. The output of light was initially characterized and assessed for its ability to penetrate through the individual N95 respirator layers. Following characterization, disinfection performance was tested using a range of model pathogens. In a series of experiments, coupons of respirator material were inoculated with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and influenza A virus. Inoculated coupons were then treated with UV light from a low-pressure UV disinfection system during specific treatment times. Microbial enumeration was performed pre- and post-UV treatment. It was found that respirator coupons inoculated with E. coli, influenza A, P. aeruginosa, B. cereus and G. stearothermophilus resulted in below detection counts when exposed to UV fluences between 410 to 2700 mJ cm−2. In addition, UV light was unable to sufficiently penetrate all layers of respirator material, highlighting the importance of flipping respirators when exposing them to UV light. This work suggests that with further validation, UV light will be a promising touchless treatment option for frontline professionals who need to repurpose N95 respirators for subsequent use.

Graphical abstract: Characterization of a commercially-available, low-pressure UV lamp as a disinfection system for decontamination of common nosocomial pathogens on N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) material

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 אפר 2020
Accepted
23 יונ 2020
First published
24 יונ 2020

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 2089-2102

Characterization of a commercially-available, low-pressure UV lamp as a disinfection system for decontamination of common nosocomial pathogens on N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) material

C. C. Ontiveros, C. L. Sweeney, C. Smith, S. MacIsaac, S. Munoz, R. Davidson, C. McCormick, N. Thomas, I. Davis, A. K. Stoddart and G. A. Gagnon, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020, 6, 2089 DOI: 10.1039/D0EW00404A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements