Brief report
Disinfecting personal protective equipment with pulsed xenon ultraviolet as a risk mitigation strategy for health care workers

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2015.01.013Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • We determined the effectiveness of pulsed xenon ultraviolet against an Ebola surrogate virus on a dry inanimate surface.

  • We determined the effectiveness of pulsed xenon ultraviolet against personal protective equipment material inoculated with an Ebola surrogate virus.

  • We determined the level of ultraviolet exposure for a person wearing personal protective equipment.

  • We described the distribution of germicidal light coverage on personal protective equipment.

The doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) after contamination with pathogens such as Ebola poses a risk to health care workers. Pulsed xenon ultraviolet (PX-UV) disinfection has been used to disinfect surfaces in hospital settings. This study examined the impact of PX-UV disinfection on an Ebola surrogate virus on glass carriers and PPE material to examine the potential benefits of using PX-UV to decontaminate PPE while worn, thereby reducing the pathogen load prior to doffing. Ultraviolet (UV) safety and coverage tests were also conducted. PX-UV exposure resulted in a significant reduction in viral load on glass carriers and PPE materials. Occupational Safety and Health Administration–defined UV exposure limits were not exceeded during PPE disinfection. Predoffing disinfection with PX-UV has potential as an additive measure to the doffing practice guidelines. The PX-UV disinfection should not be considered sterilization; all PPE should still be considered contaminated and doffed and disposed of according to established protocols.

Key Words

Environmental disinfection
Ebola
Personal protective equipment
Doffing process
Outbreak control
Ultraviolet

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not represent any position, policy, or opinion of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This work is not endorsed by the VA, was not conducted on VA premises, and hence does not constitute VA research.

Conflicts of interest: Ms. Simmons, Mr. Dale, Dr. Stibich, and Dr. Stachowiak are employees and shareholders of Xenex Disinfection Services. All work on this project was governed by the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS) and Xenex Healthcare Services. Dr Jinadatha has served as principal investigator on other research projects conducted at CTVHCS, which were funded by Xenex Healthcare Services and governed by the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between the 2 entities. Dr. Ganachari-Mallappa, Mr. Villamaria, Ms. Goulding, and Dr. Tanner have nothing to disclose.