Abstract
Background: The contamination of ambulances with pathogenic agents represents a potential threat for the public health, not only for common pathogens but also for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The aim of this project was to exploits the germicidal effect of the UVC radiation at 254 nm to sanitize the patient’s compartment of ambulances with an advanced UltraViolet SANitizing System (UV-SAN) and assess its relevance for avoiding the spread of COVID-19 and other drug resistant pathogens. Methods: The system is equipped with UVC lamps that are activated when the ambulance compartment is empty and sanitize the environment in less than 15 min. An Ozone sensor continuously monitors the gas concentration, ensuring it does not exceed threshold value harmful for patients and operators’ health. The system is relying on GNSS data and a satellite communication link, which allow to monitor and record traceability (when, where and what) of all the sanitation operations performed. This information is real-time monitored from a dedicated web-application. Results: UVC irradiation efficiently reduced SARS-CoV-2 virus titer (>99.99%), on inanimate surfaces such as plastic, stainless steel or rubber, with doses ranging from 5.5 to 24.8 mJ/cm2 and the UV-SAN system is effective against multi drug resistant (MDR) bacteria up to >99.99%, after 10 to 30 min of irradiation. Conclusions: UV-SAN can provide rapid, efficient and sustainable sanitization procedures of ambulances.
Highlights
Ambulances perform, every year, millions of responses and their contamination with pathogenic microbes poses a serious threat to public health
The system exploits the germicidal power of ultraviolet light emitted in the UVC to sterilize surfaces inside the passenger compartment of Ambulances that come into contact with the human body and which are a persistent way for the transmission of viruses and bacteria
UltraViolet SANitizing System (UV-SAN) is a sanitation system based on UVC radiation that can be installed inside ambulances and that is able, in a short time, to carry out an effective, safe and sustainable sanitation of the patient’s compartment
Summary
Ambulances perform, every year, millions of responses and their contamination with pathogenic microbes poses a serious threat to public health. The risk of infection can affect patients but all those who are transported inside the vehicle, first of all paramedical rescuers and medical staff, whose work involves pre or inter-hospital transfer. The safety problem is exacerbated by contamination by microbes whose pathogenesis is increased due to their recognized resistance to the main antimicrobial agents. The CoronaVirus 19 disease (COVID-19), declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020, whose causative agent is SARS-CoV-2 virus, poses an additional danger, as the virus can be transmitted via aerosol [1,2] and can survive for.
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