The efficacy of pulsed-xenon ultraviolet light technology on Candida auris

Candida auris is an emerging, often multi-resistant, yeast that causes invasive infections in healthcare settings [1, 2]. C. auris has the ability to cause large healthcare outbreaks [3, 4]. Patients may be colonized for months [3, 5] and C. auris has been shown to remain viable on surfaces for at least 14 days [6, 7]. It is widely considered that the environment may be a reservoir for transmission of C. auris. The Centre for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) recommends post discharge terminal cleaning and disinfection of patients’ rooms and cleaning and disinfection of areas outside the rooms where patients received care [8]. It has been demonstrated that conventional cleaning and disinfection often lacks consistency and that additional disinfection, using non-touch technologies such as hydrogen peroxide vaporisation or germicidal ultraviolet (UV-C) light can further reduce the surface bioburden and transmission of microorganisms [9]. However, a recent publication by Cadnum and colleagues showed a relative resistance of C. auris and other candida species to UV-C and that extended exposure time (20 to 30 min) might be needed [10]. In their experiment, Cadnum and colleagues (2018) used a mobile device that emits 254-nm continuous UV-C light. We tested the hypothesis that the pulsed-xenon ultraviolet (PX-UV) system that emits broad spectrum UV-C (200–280-nm) in short pulses could reduce the exposure time needed to decrease C. auris. As a comparison, we also tested the PX-UV system on C. parapsilosis, another candida known to be responsible for outbreaks in healthcare settings and survive for at least 28 days in the environment [7].

Prior cultures and growth of clinical strains of C. parapsilosis and C. auris was carried out in a broth liquid culture medium at 37 °C until concentration ranges 10⁵–10⁶ colony-forming units (CFUs) per millilitre were obtained. Glass slides were inoculated with 10 μl of C. auris stock culture and allowed to dry.

The laboratory testing results for C. auris are detailed in Table 1, stratified according to cycle time (5, 10 and 15 min) and distance from the centre of the UV light bulb (1 and 2 m). At 1-m distance from the PX-UV light bulb, there was a reduction of 99.4% of C. auris CFU observed after a 5-min cycle, while no growth was observed at 10 and 15 min. At 2-m distance from the light bulb, the C. auris CFU reduction was 90.2% after a five minutes cycle, and 99.6% after a 10-min cycle. There was no growth at 15 min.At 1-m distance, the average reduction in C. parapsilosis CFU was 98.5% after a 5-min cycle. There was no growth at 10 and 15 min. At 2-m distance, the average efficacy was only 15.7% after a 5-min cycle while it was 95.2% after a 10-min cycle. There was no growth after a 15-min cycle.

We found that at 1-m distance from the PX-UV light bulb, there was a 99.4% reduction in C. auris after a 5-min cycle and no growth after 10- and 15-min cycles. Similarly, for C. parapsilosis there was a 98.5% reduction after a 5-min cycle and no growth after 10- and 15- min cycles. We found that at 2-m distance, there was a 15.7% reduction in C. auris after a 5-min cycle, a 95.2% reduction after a 10-min cycle, and no growth after a 15-min cycle. For C. parapsilosis, there was a 90.2% reduction after a 5-min cycle, a 99.6% reduction after a 10-min cycle, and no growth after a 15-min cycle.

Candida auris and Candida parapsilosis are two pathogens commonly involved in outbreaks in healthcare settings outbreaks. They are often recovered from the hospital environment, where they can survive for a long time. Additional disinfection with hydrogen peroxide vapour is effective on C. auris and C. parapsilosis. However, this method is labour intensive as it requires sealing of the bed space, or doors and vents in case of a single-bed room, and monitoring of the concentration of H₂O₂ inside the enclosure before permitting patients or staff to enter into the room. The cycle time can last 2 to 8 h according to the H₂O₂ vapour system used. By comparison, the PX-UV technology, is easy to use and has significantly shorter cycle times that makes it easier to disinfect all areas outside the room where the patient received care, as recommended by the CDC.

We found a 99.6% reduction after a 10-min cycle at 2-m distance, and a 95.2% reduction after a 10-min cycle at 2-m distance. The PX-UV mobile device is easy to use and has short cycle times compared to other no-touch room disinfection technologies. Further studies are needed in hospital environment, to assess the cumulative impact of repeated sessions.