Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the many guidelines for reprocessing of medical instruments, challenges persist such as microbial resistance to biocides, corrosive effects on materials, and time-consuming reprocessing procedures. Ultraviolet (UV) C light-emitting diode (LED) chambers might provide a solution but the integration in healthcare is still in its infancy. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of a novel ZAPARAY™ UVC LED chamber as a time and energy-efficient alternative for reprocessing of medical instruments for which current disinfection protocols exhibit limitations. METHODS: We verified the disinfection efficacy of the UVC LED chamber on a Petri dish and contaminated several medical devices with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The bacterial reduction was assessed after 5 min of UVC LED exposure. Additionally, we investigated the impact of rinsing before UVC exposure. RESULTS: We demonstrated a bacterial reduction of 9 log(10) on a Petri dish. Non-rinsed dental tools exhibited varied reduction levels ranging from a 3.23 log(10) to a 6.25 log(10) reduction. Rinsing alone yielded an average reduction of 2.7 log(10) and additional UVC exposure further reduced the bacterial load by an average of 3.65 log(10). We showed an average 4.90 log(10) reduction on thermistors, 2 log(10) or less on orthodontic pliers, and no reduction on handpieces. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that UVC LED chambers may be used as a standardized substitute for specific (manual) disinfection procedures of certain medical devices, offering a time-efficient and more sustainable alternative. However, its use should be preceded by efficacy testing for each specific type of instrument.