Evaluation of microbiological efficiency of use of pulsed ultraviolet devices in medical organization

Abstract

Objective. To study bactericidal effect of continuous spectrum ultraviolet radiation on hospital flora and evaluate microbiological efficiency of using portable pulsed ultraviolet unit for disinfection of air and open surfaces in a medical organization. During the study, it was found that the selected research methods probably did not allow to achieve higher values of disinfection efficiency in shorter processing times.

Materials and methods. The strains of microorganisms that were used for the study were taken from various loci from patients of the department of anesthesiology and intensive care for children with cardiac pathology on the first day of their transfer from various medical organizations, as well as museum strains from the collection of microorganisms of the laboratory. Single-use plastic Petri dishes with nutrient media in the laboratory were artificially contaminated with test strains. Air samples were taken during the work shift by aspiration using a Krotov’s apparatus. Wipes were taken with a sterile cotton swab dipped in nutrient medium.

Results. No colonies of multiresistant K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, E. coli were detected in the samples as a result of exposure to a pulsed ultraviolet radiation source in a mode № 1; the efficiency of the action was 99.9–100%. With the regimen № 2 the efficacy was 83.33–99.9%. Assessment of microbiological efficiency of the disinfected open surfaces and air in a small operating room and a dressing room showed that the level of air contamination did not exceed the permissible level.

Conclusions. It has been experimentally proved that pulsed UV radiation of broadband spectrum has high bactericidal activity against microorganisms of hospital environments.