Korean J Anesthesiol.  1990 Apr;23(2):223-230. 10.4097/kjae.1990.23.2.223.

The Effects of UV - 254 nm Light on Hospital Air Contaminants

• Lee JS
• Yoo HJ
• Kim YK
• Chang SH

• KMID: 2090531
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1990.23.2.223

Abstract

An individual may be at increased risk of acquiring an infectious disease either because of inherent host factors, such as age and illness, or environmental factors, manipulations performed as part of medical practice, or a combination of both factors. Among the exogenaus causes, especially the mode of airborne transmission in hospital infection, the authors observed the effects of UV-254 nm light on air contaminants in the intensive care unit by performing colony counts and Gram stain. The mechanism of action of UV-254 nm light on air contaminants is known to be the destruction of the microbial genetic material such as RNA and/or DNA. The results of reducing the air contaminants through the UV-254 nm light in the intensive care unit show the destruction of a broad spectrum of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms as follows: 1) The UV-254 nm light was most effective in crowded conditions of the intensive care unit. 2) The effect was begun from one hour after exposure of the UV-254 nm light device, and low colony counts were maintained constantly up to the 12th day. 3) Among the microorganisms, the device especially reduced the colony counts of staphylococcus species.

Keyword

UV-254nm light; Air contaminant; Hospital infection

MeSH Terms

Communicable Diseases
Cross Infection
DNA
Genetics, Microbial
Intensive Care Units
RNA
Staphylococcus
DNA
RNA