Westchester Medical Center

Clostridium difficile infections before and during use of ultraviolet disinfection.

Nagaraja A, Visintainer P, Haas JP, Menz J, Wormser GP, Montecalvo MA; Am J Infect Control. 2015 Jul 6. pii: S0196-6553(15)00514-3.

Abstract
We previously reported a significant decrease in hospital-acquired (HA) Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) coincident with the introduction of pulsed xenon ultraviolet light for room disinfection (UVD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate CDI cases in greater detail to understand the effect of UVD.

Compared with pre-UVD, during UVD, HA CDI was 22% less (P = .06). There was a 70% decrease for the adult intensive care units (ICUs) (P < .001), where the percentage of room discharges with UVD was greater (P < .001). During UVD, CA CDI increased by 18%, and length of stay of all CDI cases was lower because of the greater proportion of CA CDI. No significant difference was found in days to HA CDI in rooms with a prior CDI occupant.