A prototype catheter designed for ultraviolet C disinfection

Abstract

Background: Disinfection of the intraluminal space of single-lumen polymer tubes can be obtained by ultraviolet C (UVC) light exposure from an external light source. In existing catheters UVC disinfection is hampered by the design of the catheter hub and tube connector.

Aim: To demonstrate that it is possible to design a single-lumen catheter with a hub, tube connector and tube parts that can be UVC-disinfected throughout its entire lumen.

Methods: Two single-lumen catheters were designed: one control and one for UVC exposure. They were contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10(4)-10(5) cfu/mL) before UVC light exposure, sampling and plate counting.

Findings: Two minutes of UVC exposure was sufficient to obtain 4 log10 disinfection for the full-length prototype catheter. This exposure corresponds to ∼40 mJ/cm(2) at the catheter tip and indicates that even shorter exposure times can be achieved.

Conclusions: It is possible to design catheters that can be disinfected throughout the entire lumen. UVC light exposure could be useful as a decontamination method for catheters in clinical use.