title: Non-inferiority of pulsed xenon UV light versus bleach for reducing environmental Clostridium difficile contamination on high-touch surfaces in Clostridium difficile infection isolation rooms.
abstract: The standard for Clostridium difficile surface decontamination is bleach solution at a concentration of 10 % of sodium hypochlorite. Pulsed xenon UV light (PX-UV) is a means of quickly producing germicidal UV that has been shown to be effective in reducing environmental contamination by C. difficile spores. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether PX-UV was equivalent to bleach for decontamination of surfaces in C. difficile infection isolation rooms. High-touch surfaces in rooms previously occupied by C. difficile infected patients were sampled after discharge but before and after cleaning using either bleach or non-bleach cleaning followed by 15 min of PX-UV treatment. A total of 298 samples were collected by using a moistened wipe specifically designed for the removal of spores. Prior to disinfection, the mean contamination level was 2.39 c.f.u. for bleach rooms and 22.97 for UV rooms. After disinfection, the mean level of contamination for bleach was 0.71 c.f.u. (P = 0.1380), and 1.19 c.f.u. (P = 0.0017) for PX-UV disinfected rooms. The difference in final contamination levels between the two cleaning protocols was not significantly different (P = 0.9838). PX-UV disinfection appears to be at least equivalent to bleach in the ability to decrease environmental contamination with C. difficile spores. Larger studies are needed to validate this conclusion.
authors: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd/Box 402, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors: Shashank S
authors: SS
authors: Ghantoji
authors: Xenex Disinfection Services, 121 Interpark, Suite 104, San Antonio, Texas, 78216, USA.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Stibich
authors: Xenex Disinfection Services, 121 Interpark, Suite 104, San Antonio, Texas, 78216, USA.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Stachowiak
authors: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd/Box 402, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors: Sherry
authors: S
authors: Cantu
authors: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd/Box 402, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors: Javier A
authors: JA
authors: Adachi
authors: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd/Box 402, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors: Issam I
authors: II
authors: Raad
authors: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd/Box 402, Houston, TX 77030, USA rfchemaly@mdanderson.org.
authors: Roy F
authors: RF
authors: Chemaly
mesh_terms: D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
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