As antibiotic resistance rises globally, infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are becoming a serious threat in healthcare settings. This increase is largely attributed to the widespread use of antibiotics, which has fueled the emergence of bacteria that no longer respond to conventional treatments. With these pathogens responsible for rising mortality rates and increased healthcare costs, effective environmental disinfection methods are urgently needed to help curb their spread.
Recent research has identified Far-UVC as a promising tool in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, offering a potentially safer and effective method of disinfection on high-touch surfaces commonly found in healthcare environments.
This study investigates the disinfection power of 222 nm Far-UVC on several clinically isolated antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including notorious strains such as:
These pathogens were tested across a variety of materials that are frequently touched in clinical settings, such as metals, plastics, and other common surfaces.
Far-UVC (222 nm wavelength) has gained attention for its unique ability to inactivate bacteria and viruses without penetrating deeper levels of human skin or eyes, making it safe for use in occupied spaces.
Traditional UVC lights operate at 254 nm, which is effective but harmful to humans, requiring caution and strict safety protocols in clinical environments. Far-UVC, however, offers a safer alternative that can be used more flexibly in healthcare settings, creating continuous disinfection zones that actively reduce bacterial contamination.
The study conducted a series of experiments, varying Far-UVC exposure times from 10 seconds up to an hour, to assess its bactericidal efficacy on each pathogen across different surfaces. Key findings include:
Far-UVC proved highly effective against all tested antibiotic-resistant bacteria, significantly reducing pathogen presence on high-touch surfaces.
The type of material influenced how effective the Far-UVC was; more adsorptive surfaces, such as porous materials, required higher doses of Far-UVC exposure for thorough disinfection.
For many pathogens and surfaces, substantial bacterial reduction was achieved within short exposure times, suggesting that Far-UVC could be a practical addition to daily infection control measures without disrupting typical workflows.
This study highlights the promising potential of Far-UVC for infection control in healthcare settings. Since antibiotic-resistant bacteria are particularly resilient, standard cleaning protocols often struggle to eliminate them effectively from high-touch surfaces, leading to a heightened risk of transmission among vulnerable patients. The study’s results indicate that Far-UVC could serve as an added layer of defense against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), especially in areas with frequent patient contact, such as bed rails, door handles, and medical equipment.
The UV222 Downlight, designed to be ceiling-mounted, emits Far-UVC light at 222 nm, effectively inactivating antibiotic-resistant bacteria on surfaces and in the air— in occupied spaces.
Based on findings in the study, placing a UV222 Downlight above a target surface in a hospital setting would lead to a 90% reduction in antibiotic-resistant strains including MRSA, VRE, CRKP, CREC, CRPA, and CRSAB within 30 minutes, with a 99.9% reduction achieved within 1.5 hours.
One of the greatest advantages of UV Medico’s products is their ability to provide continuous inactivation of these challenging bacterial strains throughout the day, even while patients and medical staff are present. This capability reduces the risk of transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, creating a safer healthcare environment.
The study provides evidence for Far-UVC’s potential as a safe, effective tool for controlling antibiotic-resistant bacteria in healthcare settings. Its unique dual benefit—potent disinfection combined with a favorable safety profile for human exposure—makes Far-UVC a forward-thinking solution in the ongoing fight against antibiotic-resistant infections. While additional research and careful implementation are needed to maximize its effectiveness across all material types, Far-UVC holds great promise for reducing HAIs and supporting overall infection control efforts in clinical environments.
As the healthcare industry continues to seek effective solutions to combat the rise of drug-resistant pathogens, Far-UVC technology could become a pivotal addition to the arsenal of tools designed to protect patients and healthcare workers alike.