A Maugeri, B Casini, E Esposito, S Bracaloni, M Scarpaci, F Patanè, G Milazzo, A Agodi, M Barchitta
BACKGROUND: HOSPITAL-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS (HAIs) are a significant burden on HEALTHCARE systems. Ultraviolet light (UVL) disinfection has emerged as a potential method for reducing HAIs by decontaminating HEALTHCARE environments.
AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of UVL in reducing HAIs across various hospital settings.
METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, with searches performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus through July 2023. Peer-reviewed observational and experimental studies assessing UVL's impact on HAIs were included. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, UVL type, and infection outcomes. Studies focusing on environmental contamination or lacking sufficient data were excluded.
FINDINGS: Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. UVL types included ultraviolet-C (UV-C), pulsed xenon UV (PX-UV), and unspecified UVL. For PX-UV, several studies reported reductions in infection rates, with some showing up to a 70% decrease in Clostridioides difficile infection rates, especially in high-risk areas such as intensive care units, though results vary across settings, with some studies not observing significant improvements. UV-C disinfection has also been found to reduce HAIs, with its effectiveness varying based on the HEALTHCARE setting and targeted pathogens, and it is most effective when used in conjunction with other infection control strategies.
CONCLUSION: UVL disinfection technologies have demonstrated potential in reducing HAIs, particularly when integrated into a comprehensive infection prevention strategy. Their effectiveness, however, varies by application, pathogen type, and HEALTHCARE setting. Further research is needed to optimize UVL implementation and assess its cost-effectiveness in diverse clinical environments.
