Assessment of focused multivector ultraviolet disinfection withshadowless delivery using 5‐point multisided sampling ofpatientcare equipment without manual‐chemical disinfection

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a focused multivector ultraviolet (FMUV) system employing shadowless delivery with a 90‐second disinfection cycle for patient care equipment inside and outside the operating room (OR) suite without manual‐chemical disinfection. Methods: A 5‐point multisided sampling protocol was utilized to measure the microbial burden on objects inside and outside the OR environment in a 3‐phase nonrandomized observational study. Surface sampling was performed pre‐ and postdisinfection in between cases (IBCs) to assess the performance of manual‐chemical disinfection. FMUV system performance was separately assessed pre‐ and postdisinfection before the first case and IBCs. Additionally, visibly clean high‐touch objects were sampled outside the OR, and the microbial burden reductions after FMUV disinfection were quantified without manual‐chemical disinfection. Results: Manual‐chemical disinfection reduced the active microbial burden on sampled objects IBCs by 52.8%‐90.9% (P < .05). FMUV reduced the active microbial burden by 92%‐97.7% (P < .0001) before the firstcase and IBCs combined, and 96.3%‐99.6% (P < .0001) on objects outside the OR without chemical disinfection. Conclusions: Five‐point multisided sampling proved effective for assessing disinfection performance on all exterior sides of equipment. FMUV produced significant overall reductions of the microbial burden on patient care equipment in all study phases and independent of manual cleaning and chemical disinfection.