Evaluation of Novel “No-Touch” Technologies for Decontamination of Toys in Pediatric Healthcare Settings

Abstract

Background: Toys in playrooms are often shared among patients in pediatric healthcare settings; they can present a risk for transmission of bacterial and viral pathogens. Effective cleaning and disinfection of toys using disinfectant wipes is labor intensive and difficult due to irregular surfaces. Methods: We conducted a point-prevalence culture survey to determine the frequency of contamination of in-use toys and high-touch surfaces in playrooms in a pediatric healthcare facility with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and Clostridioides difficile. Using a variety of toys inoculated with pathogens, we evaluated efficacy and ease-of-use of 3 novel “no-touch” technologies: (1) an electrostatic sprayer, (2) a small ultraviolet-C (UV-C) box (18.9 × 9.9 × 1.8 inches) for smaller toys, and (3) a high-level disinfection cabinet using ultrasonic submicron droplets of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Test pathogens included C. difficile, MRSA, and Candida auris. Results: Of 135 items cultured in playrooms, 6 (4.4%) were contaminated with MRSA, 1 (0.7%) was contaminated with VRE, and none were contaminated with C. difficile. Each of the technologies reduced all pathogens by >4 log10 CFU on all types of toys tested (plastic, soft rubber, and tablet). The electrostatic sprayer was considered the easiest to use by all users because large numbers of toys could be processed much more quickly (ie, spray for 20 seconds and allow to air dry) than with disinfectant wipes. The disinfection cabinet required 21 minutes for cycle completion, whereas the decontamination cycle for the UV box was only 30–90 seconds but with limited capacity to hold toys. Conclusions: Three “no-touch” technologies were effective for disinfection of toys contaminated with healthcare-associated pathogens. The electrostatic spray application of disinfectant was considered the easiest to use for rapid decontamination of toys.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None