title: Calibration of optimal use parameters for an ultraviolet light-emitting diode in eliminating bacterial contamination on needleless connectors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Needleless connectors may develop bacterial contamination and cause central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) despite rigorous application of best-practice. Ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LED) are an emerging, increasingly affordable disinfection technology. We tested the hypothesis that a low-power UV LED could reliably eliminate bacteria on needleless central-line ports in a laboratory model of central-line contamination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Needleless central-line connectors were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus. A 285 nm UV LED was used in calibrated fashion to expose contaminated connectors. Ports were directly applied to agar plates and flushed with sterile saline, allowing assessment of bacterial survival on the port surface and in simulated usage flow-through fluid. UV applied to needleless central-line connectors was highly lethal at 0·5 cm distance at all tested exposure times. At distances >1·5 cm both simulated flow-through and port surface cultures demonstrated significant bacterial growth following UV exposure. Logarithmic-phase S. aureus subcultures were highly susceptible to UV induction/maintenance dosing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-power UV LED doses at fixed time and distance from needleless central-line connector ports reduced cultivable S. aureus from >10(6) CFU to below detectable levels in this laboratory simulation of central-line port contamination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-power UV LEDs may represent a feasible alternative to current best-practice in connector decontamination.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Hutchens
authors: Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors: S L
authors: SL
authors: Drennan
authors: Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors: E D
authors: ED
authors: Cambronne
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002138:Calibration; D004203:Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000382:microbiology*; D009339:Needles / Q000382:microbiology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
keywords: central venous catheter; central-line-associated bloodstream infections; disinfection; needleless connector; ultraviolet light-emitting diode