Efficacy of pulsed xenon ultraviolet disinfection of multidrug-resistant bacteria and Clostridioides difficile spores

Hiroki Kitagawa; Kayoko Tadera; Toshinori Hara; Seiya Kashiyama; Minako Mori; Hiroki Ohge

doi:10.1016/j.idh.2020.03.001

Efficacy of pulsed xenon ultraviolet disinfection of multidrug-resistant bacteria and Clostridioides difficile spores

Infect Dis Health. 2020 Aug;25(3):181-185. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2020.03.001. Epub 2020 Apr 11.

Authors

Hiroki Kitagawa¹, Kayoko Tadera², Toshinori Hara², Seiya Kashiyama², Minako Mori³, Hiroki Ohge⁴

Affiliations

¹ Project Research Center for Nosocomial Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan; Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. Electronic address: hkitaga@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
² Project Research Center for Nosocomial Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan; Section of Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
³ Department of Infection Control, Hiroshima University Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan; Department of Nursing, Hiroshima University Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
⁴ Project Research Center for Nosocomial Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan; Department of Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.

PMID: 32284309
DOI: 10.1016/j.idh.2020.03.001

Abstract

Background: Contamination of healthcare environments by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) and Clostridioides difficile is a risk for healthcare-associated infections. The efficacy of pulsed xenon ultraviolet (PX-UV) disinfection in healthcare environments has been described previously. However, there are few reports about PX-UV disinfection in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro the efficacy of PX-UV disinfection of MDRO and C. difficile spores commonly isolated in Japanese hospitals.

Methods: We investigated reductions in microbial counts after exposure to PX-UV of the following clinically-isolated organisms on seeding agar plates: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli, multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and C. difficile spores. We also visually assessed the attenuation of disinfection by shielding of MRSA and carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae from PX-UV exposure.

Results: PX-UV disinfection for 5 min induced >5-log colony-forming units (CFU)/cm² growth inhibition of all the MDRO. PX-UV disinfection for 15 min induced >3-log CFU/cm² growth inhibition of C. difficile spores. Where a plate was shielded from PX-UV exposure the bacteria showed confluent growth, but no colonies were observed on unshielded (exposed) parts of the plates.

Conclusion: This study shows the efficacy of PX-UV disinfection against clinical MDROs. C. difficile spores were more resistant to PX-UV disinfection than vegetative bacteria. Further evaluation of the efficacy of PX-UV disinfection in reducing the contamination of real-world surfaces and the incidence of healthcare-associated infections is needed.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile; Disinfection; Infection prevention; Multidrug resistance; Spores.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Clostridioides difficile / radiation effects*
Disinfection*
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
Humans
Infection Control
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / radiation effects*
Spores, Bacterial / radiation effects
Ultraviolet Rays*
Xenon

Substances

Xenon