Reduction of Airborne and Surface-Borne Bacteria in a Medical Center Burn Intensive Care Unit Using Active, Upper-Room, Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV) Disinfection

This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the UV Angel Clean AirTM technology at reducing airborne and surface bacteria at the Loyola University Medical Center Burn Unit, a facility at 2160 S 1st Ave, Maywood, IL, which is part of the Loyola University Medical Center. The building has traffic consistent with a top-rated medical facility. In the evening as the day shift switches to the night shift and visiting hours end the facility is less busy.

The study at Loyola University Medical Center Burn Unit was conducted from March 6-7, 2022, and June 7- 8, 2022 following standard scientific best practices and using commercially available UV Angel Clean AirTM technology. The study design and protocol were developed in collaboration with Loyola Medical Center. Bacteria samples were taken for the air and settled surfaces before installation of the technology (March 6th & 7th). The UV Angel protocol calls for the post-testing to be conducted a minimum of two weeks after the installation of the last unit, and all devices are operational. This minimum two-week period allows contractors to finish the work and settle the environment created by the installation (June 7th & 8th).

This intervention study was performed at Loyola University Medical Center, where airborne (AB) and surface-borne (SB) bacteria were measured before and after room-based UVGI air treatment. Approximately 646 agar plates were used for airborne and surface pre- and post-sampling.

This study demonstrated a large statistically significant reduction (91%) in airborne bacteria after installing UV Angel Clean AirTM technology in the mitigated areas. The large statistically significant reduction in bacteria settling on surfaces (68%) suggests a relationship between air and surfaces. UV Angel terms this the “snow globe effect,” where treating the air leads to a reduction in bacteria settling on surfaces. The study results align with those in existing peer-reviewed clinical environment studies. The findings for the mitigated area were statistically significant and highly repeatable, with p-values less than 0.0001 for both locations. The bacteria in CFUs in the area pre-installation was 421 compared with 38 post-installations of UV Angel Air Units. The surfaces in CFUs were 22 pre-installations compared to 7 post-installations of the UV Angel.

Click the link to read the full study: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/reduction-of-airborne-and-surfaceborne-bacteria-in-a-medical-center-burn-intensive-care-unit-using-active-upperroom-germicidal-ultraviolet-guv-disinfection/21230CF1085975CA280C8A8F48267E6D#