Calibration of optimal use parameters for an ultraviolet light-emitting diode in eliminating bacterial contamination on needleless connectors

Abstract

Aims Needleless connectors may develop bacterial contamination and cause central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) despite rigorous application of best-practice. Ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LED) are an emerging, increasingly affordable disinfection technology. We tested the hypothesis that a low-power UV LED could reliably eliminate bacteria on needleless central-line ports in a laboratory model of central-line contamination. Methods and Results Needleless central-line connectors were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus. A 285 nm UV LED was used in calibrated fashion to expose contaminated connectors. Ports were directly applied to agar plates and flushed with sterile saline, allowing assessment of bacterial survival on the port surface and in simulated usage flow-through fluid. UV applied to needleless central-line connectors was highly lethal at 0·5 cm distance at all tested exposure times. At distances >1·5 cm both simulated flow-through and port surface cultures demonstrated significant bacterial growth following UV exposure. Logarithmic-phase S. aureus subcultures were highly susceptible to UV induction/maintenance dosing. Conclusions Low-power UV LED doses at fixed time and distance from needleless central-line connector ports reduced cultivable S. aureus from >106 CFU to below detectable levels in this laboratory simulation of central-line port contamination. Significance and Impact of the study Low-power UV LEDs may represent a feasible alternative to current best-practice in connector decontamination.

Desinfecção de hubs e conectores de cateteres intravenosos

“…Com relação ao tipo de desinfecção, 11 estudos recomendaram somente a desinfecção ativa, e 11 estudos recomendaram somente a desinfecção passiva. Quatro estudos recomendaram ambas as desinfecções, sendo os estudos E15 20 , E25 10 , E26 15 e E27 13 , e um estudo recomendou o uso de LED UV 26 . Quanto à desinfecção ativa, percebe-se que todos os estudos que contaram com essa análise se basearam no uso de wipes/swab/pads, sendo eles E1, E2, E5, E6, E10, E15, E16, E17, E18, E19, E23, E24, E25, E26 e E27.…”

“…Em contrapartida, na busca por inovações na área da desinfecção de conectores, o estudo E2 apresentou o uso de Spray de CHG 2,5% 22 e o estudo E7 indicou o uso de Light Emitting Diode Ultravioleta (LED UV) 285nm a uma distância de 0,5 a 1,5 cm. 26 tecnologias é um desafio por conta dos custos para sua implementação nos serviços de saúde, assim como pela necessidade de realização de testes com esses dispositivos. Logo, estudos que avaliem a efetividade juntamente com a eficácia (custos-benefícios) são importantes para o gerenciamento dos serviços de saúde.…”

“…Pode-se, também, verificar a efetividade dos métodos de desinfecção para a prevenção de CABSI por meio de redução nas taxas de sepses, 9 redução da carga bacteriana de conectores; 21,22,[24][25][26][28][29][30]33 e redução no risco de 34% a 69% para CABSI. 7,8,20,23,27,31,32,[35][36][37][38] Logo, os estudos que utilizaram redução no risco para CABSI tiveram como foco as CABSI.…”

Fabrication technology for high light-extraction ultraviolet thin-film flip-chip (UV TFFC) LEDs grown on SiC

“…AlGaN ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs) and ultraviolet laser diodes in the range of 265-280 nm are needed to develop novel disinfection and sterilizing technologies (water, air, and surfaces) to improve access to clean water [1][2][3][4], improve public health [5,6], and enable other biotech applications [7][8][9][10]. UV LEDs are a viable technology for replacing mercury gas discharge lamps in disinfection and biotechnology applications [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”