Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-dfsvx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T14:24:03.042Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Efficacy of relatively low-cost ultraviolet-C light devices against Candida auris

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2021

Basya S. Pearlmutter ,
Muhammed F. Haq ,
Jennifer L. Cadnum ,
Annette L. Jencson ,
Matthew Carlisle  and
Curtis J. Donskey
Basya S. Pearlmutter
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Cleveland Ohio
Muhammed F. Haq
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Cleveland Ohio
Jennifer L. Cadnum
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Cleveland Ohio
Annette L. Jencson
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Cleveland Ohio
Matthew Carlisle
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Cleveland Ohio
Curtis J. Donskey*
Affiliation:
Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
*
Author for correspondence: Curtis J. Donskey, E-mail: Curtis.Donskey@va.gov
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light devices could be useful to reduce environmental contamination with Candida auris. However, variable susceptibility of C. auris strains to UV-C has been reported, and the high cost of many devices limits their use in resource-limited settings.

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy of relatively low-cost (<$15,000 purchase price) UV-C devices against C. auris strains from the 4 major phylogenetic clades.

Methods:

A modification of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard quantitative disk carrier test method (ASTM E 2197) was used to examine and compare the effectiveness of UV-C devices against C. auris, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and bacteriophage Phi6. Reductions of 3 log10 were considered effective. UV-C irradiance measurements and colorimetric indicators were used to assess UV-C output.

Results:

Of 8 relatively low-cost UV-C devices, 6 met the criteria for effective decontamination of C. auris isolates from clades I and II, MRSA, and bacteriophage Phi6, including 3 room decontamination devices and 3 UV-C box devices. Candida auris isolates from clades III and IV were less susceptible to UV-C than clade I and II isolates; 1 relatively low-cost room decontamination device and 2 enclosed box devices met the criteria for effective decontamination of clade III and IV isolates. UV-C irradiance measurements and colorimetric indicator results were consistent with microorganism reductions.

Conclusions:

Some relatively low-cost UV-C light technologies are effective against C. auris, including isolates from clades III and IV with reduced UV-C susceptibility. Studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of UV-C devices in clinical settings.

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 43 , Issue 6 , June 2022 , pp. 747 - 751
Check for updates
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Fungal diseases: Candida auris. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/candida-auris.html. Accessed January 16, 2021.Google Scholar
Piedrahita, CT, Cadnum, JL, Jencson, AL, Shaikh, AA, Ghannoum, MA, Donskey, CJ. Environmental surfaces in healthcare facilities are a potential source for transmission of Candida auris and other Candida species. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1107–1109.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pacilli, M, Kerins, JL, Clegg, WJ, et al. Regional emergence of Candida auris in Chicago and lessons learned from intensive follow-up at 1 ventilator-capable skilled nursing facility. Clin Infect Dis 2020;71:e718–e725.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schelenz, S, Hagen, F, Rhodes, JL, et al. First hospital outbreak of the globally emerging Candida auris in a European hospital. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2016;5:35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eyre, DW, Sheppard, AE, Madder, HD, et al. A Candida auris outbreak and its control in an intensive care setting. N Engl J Med 2018;379:1322–1331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donskey, CJ. Decontamination devices in health care facilities: practical issues and emerging applications. Am J Infect Control 2019;47S:A23–A28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cadnum, JL, Shaikh, AA, Piedrahita, CT, et al. Relative resistance of the emerging fungal pathogen Candida auris and other Candida species to killing by ultraviolet light. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:94–96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
de Groot, T, Chowdhary, A, Meis, JF, Voss, A. Killing of Candida auris by UV-C: importance of exposure time and distance. Mycoses 2019;62:408–412.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chatterjee, P, Choi, H, Ochoa, B, et al. Clade-specific variation in susceptibility of Candida auris to broad-spectrum ultraviolet C light (UV-C). Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2020;41:1384–1387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cadnum, JL, Li, DF, Jones, LD, Redmond, SN, Pearlmutter, B, Wilson, BM, Donskey, CJ. Evaluation of ultraviolet-C light for rapid decontamination of airport security bins in the era of SARS-CoV-2. Pathog Immun 2020;5:133–142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Casanova, LM, Weaver, SR. Evaluation of eluents for the recovery of an enveloped virus from hands by whole-hand sampling. J Appl Microbiol 2015;118:1210–1216.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cadnum, JL, Tomas, ME, Sankar, T, et al. Effect of variation in test methods on performance of ultraviolet-C radiation room decontamination. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:555–560.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cadnum, JL, Jencson, AL, Gestrich, SA, et al. A comparison of the efficacy of multiple ultraviolet light room decontamination devices in a radiology procedure room. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019;40:158–163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mathew, JI, Cadnum, JL, Sankar, T, Jencson, AL, Kundrapu, S, Donskey, CJ. Evaluation of an enclosed ultraviolet-C radiation device for decontamination of mobile handheld devices. Am J Infect Control 2016;44:724–726.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
ASTM International, Designation E2197. Standard Quantitative Disk Carrier Test Method for Determining Bactericidal, Virucidal, Fungicidal, Mycobactericidal, and Sporicidal Activities of Chemicals. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International; 2011.Google Scholar
Rutala, WA, Kanamori, H, Gergen, MF, Sickbert-Bennett, EE, Weber, DJ. Susceptibility of Candida auris and Candida albicans to 21 germicides used in healthcare facilities. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019;40:380–382.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lemons, AR, McClelland, TL, Martin, SB, Lindsley, WG, Green, BJ. Inactivation of the multi-drug-resistant pathogen Candida auris using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. J Hosp Infect 2020;105:495–501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sexton, DJ, Welsh, RM, Bentz, ML, Forsberg, K, Jackson, B, Berkow, EL, Litvintseva, AP. Evaluation of nine surface disinfectants against Candida auris using a quantitative disk carrier method: EPA SOP-MB-35. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2020;41:1219–1221.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed