Abstract

Background:Contaminated surfaces are a potential source for spread of respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light is effective against RNA and DNA viruses and could be useful for decontamination of high-touch fomites that are shared by multiple users.Methods:A modification of the American Society for Testing and Materials standard quantitative carrier disk test method (ASTM E-2197-11) was used to examine the effectiveness of UV-C light for rapid decontamination of plastic airport security bins inoculated at 3 sites with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and bacteriophages MS2, PhiX174, and Phi6, an enveloped RNA virus used as a surrogate for coronaviruses. Reductions of 3 log10 on inoculated plastic bins were considered effective for decontamination.Results:UV-C light administered as 10-, 20-, or 30-second cycles in proximity to a plastic bin reduced contamination on each of the test sites, including vertical and horizontal surfaces. The 30-second cycle met criteria for decontamination of all 3 test sites for all the test organisms except bacteriophage MS2 which was reduced by greater than 2 log10 PFU at each site.Conclusions:UV-C light is an attractive technology for rapid decontamination of airport security bins. Further work is needed to evaluate the utility of UV-C light in real-world settings and to develop methods to provide automated movement of bins through a UV-C decontamination process.

Highlights

  • The emergence of highly pathogenic respiratory viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) highlights the need for effective measures to prevent viral transmission [1]

  • A modification of the American Society for Testing and Materials standard quantitative carrier disk test method (ASTM E-2197-11) was used to examine the effectiveness of UV-C light for rapid decontamination of plastic airport security bins inoculated at 3 sites with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and bacteriophages MS2, PhiX174, and Phi6, an enveloped RNA virus used as a surrogate for coronaviruses

  • UV-C light is an attractive technology for rapid decontamination of airport security bins

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Summary

Introduction

The emergence of highly pathogenic respiratory viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) highlights the need for effective measures to prevent viral transmission [1]. Many studies have demonstrated recovery of respiratory virus nucleic acid on surfaces in healthcare and community settings such as households, day care centers, schools, and airports [5, 8,9,10,11,12,13]. Based on this body of evidence, enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection is recommended as a control measure for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare and community settings [14]. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light is effective against RNA and DNA viruses and could be useful for decontamination of high-touch fomites that are shared by multiple users.

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