Researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore assessed the efficacy of using ultraviolet light to disinfect high-touch areas in patient rooms in a recent study published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Specifically, the research focused on eliminating Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae organisms such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli and Enterobacter cloacae. The high-touch areas in the patient room and bathroom chosen by the authors of the study included the bed rail, vitals monitor, keyboard, tray table, call box, sink, shower curtain and toilet seat.
Ultimately, the study found UV light treatment was "highly effective" at killing CRE on high-touch surfaces within 15 minutes of exposure. In fact, the light treatment completely eliminated bacteria on 25 different high-touch surfaces. The researchers identified CRE growth on only two surfaces after UV treatment — the shower curtain and the bed rail.
"UV technology is an effective method to disinfect CRE from high-touch surfaces in the patient-care environment," the study concluded. "Methods such as this may become increasingly important as antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative pathogens continue to emerge."
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