title: Portable UV light as an alternative for decontamination.
abstract: We evaluated the capability of a commercially available hand-held device that emits ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect plain surfaces. Eight bacterial species were tested, including Clostridium difficile ribotype 027 and 3 other spore-forming species. Even bacterial spores could be successfully inactivated within a few seconds of irradiation. UV light may provide an alternative for the decontamination of medical products, such as mobile phones or tablet computers, that cannot be treated otherwise.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Lasse Per
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Petersson
authors.affiliation: Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Urs-Vito
authors.initials: UV
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sedlacek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gemein
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gebel
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: Vonberg.Ralf@MH-Hannover.DE.
authors.forename: Ralf-Peter
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Vonberg
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004203:Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
keywords: Bacteria; Infection control; Killing kinetic; Spores; Surface disinfection