UV Disinfection Appears Effective Against C. difficile - NEJM Journal Watch

http://www.jwatch.org/na43312/2017/02/01/uv-disinfection-appears-effective-against-c-difficile?ijkey=BtZS2SYhZ5Sag&keytype=ref&siteid=jwatch&query=pfw&jwd=000100713143&jspc=D&variant=full-text

UV Disinfection Appears Effective Against C. difficile

Clostridium difficile is responsible for one of the most prevalent healthcare-acquired infections. Because C. difficile forms spores that can survive on environmental surfaces for months, environmental contamination is a major route of transmission. Several approaches have been developed to enhance standard cleaning of hospital rooms to eradicate the pathogen, but efficacy data are sparse. Researchers at one academic medical center that had already implemented multiple measures to reduce C. difficile infection (CDI) conducted a prospective controlled study of CDI incidence before and after terminal disinfection of rooms previously occupied by CD-infected patients using ultraviolet wavelength C germicidal irradiation (UVGI).

During a 12-month period, UVGI was used after 541 of 2569 discharges (21.6%) on three hematology-oncology units. CDI incidence in the study units was reduced by 25% compared with a 12-month preintervention baseline period. In contrast, CDI incidence in the non–study units (all other inpatient units combined) increased 16% over baseline. UVGI use lengthened the mean room turnaround time by 6.9 minutes for study units compared with non–study units (66.7 minutes vs. 59.8 minutes).

Editor Disclosures at Time of Publication

• Disclosures for Richard T. Ellison III, MD at time of publication Consultant / Advisory board Philips Healthcare Grant / Research support Philips Healthcare

Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock

Skin Care Physicians of Costa Rica

4000-1054

2208-8206

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