Efficacy of Radiant Catalytic Ionization in Reduction of Enterococcus spp., Clostridioides difficile and Staphylococcus aureus in Indoor Air

Abstract

(1) Background: An aerogenic way is one of main rout of spreading microorganisms (including antibiotic resistant), that cause healthcare-associated infections. The source of microorganisms in the air can be patients, personnel, visitors, outdoor air, hospital surfaces and equipment, and even sink drains. (2) Methods: The standardized suspensions (0.5 McFarland) of the examined strains (Enterococcus spp., Clostridioides difficile, Staphylococcus aureus) were nebulized in sterile chamber. Then the Induct 750 (ActivTek) device, generating RCI (radiant catalytic ionization) phenomenon, was used for 20 min. Next, the number of bacteria in the air was calculated using collision method. The percentage of reduction coefficient (R) was calculated. (3) Results: In case of enterococci, the R value was >90% and there are no statistically significant differences among tested strains. For C. difficile strains the R value range from 64–95%. The R value calculated for hypervirulent, antibiotic resistant CDI PCR 27 strain was statistically significantly lower than for other examined strains. For S. aureus non-MRSA the R value was 99.87% and for S. aurues MRSA the R value was 95.61%. (4) Conclusions: The obtained results indicate that the use of RCI may contribute to reducing the occurrence of dangerous pathogens in the air, and perhaps transmission and persistence in the hospital buildings environment.

Effect of radiant catalytic ionization on environmental conditions in rodent rooms and the haematological status of mice

“…Skowron et al obtained much better sterilization results in laboratory conditions. In their study of standardized strains of various bacteria ( Enterococcus spp., Clostridioides difficile , and Staphylococcus aureus ) in the air, the reduction ranged from 79 to 99% after 20 min of RCI treatment [ 40 ]. The diversity of the bacteria present in the air in the present study may have reduced the effectiveness of RCI.…”

Antimicrobial effect of radiant catalytic ionization

“…The high efficiency of RCI in the air was also demonstrated for fungi (from 95Á00% (Penicillium chrusogenum) to 100Á00%) (Table 1). Worth mentioning, the RCI is efficient against airborne and surface-based multidrugresistant bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae NDM (New Delhi metallo-b-lactamase; Skowron et al 2019) and S. aureus MRSA (Methicyllin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in the air (Skowron et al 2020b). Clostridium sporogenes spores were the most resistant to RCI both our in the case of air and surface.…”

Photocatalytic inactivation technologies for bioaerosols: advances and perspective

“…[19][20][21][22] Existing bioaerosol control ways include physical, chemical, and biological methods. 16 Physical methods like ultraviolet (UV), 23 thermal, 24 and microwave irradiation, 25 plasma, 26,27 ions, 28 filters [29][30][31] and static electricity [32][33][34] can inactivate bioaerosols in enclosed spaces by destroying their genetic matter or their physical structures. 35 They suffer from huge energy consumption, space occupation, and localized inactivation.…”