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. 2023 Oct 31:2023:2085140.
doi: 10.1155/2023/2085140. eCollection 2023.

Antimicrobial Activity of Filtered Far-UVC Light (222 nm) against Different Pathogens

Ana C Lorenzo-Leal  1 , Wenxi Tam  1 , Ata Kheyrandish  2 , Madjid Mohseni  2 , Horacio Bach  1
Affiliations

Antimicrobial Activity of Filtered Far-UVC Light (222 nm) against Different Pathogens

Ana C Lorenzo-Leal et al. Biomed Res Int. .

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) light is an effective disinfection technology, able to inactivate a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. A safer UV wavelength of 222 nm, also known as far-UVC, has been proposed to minimize these harmful effects while retaining the light's disinfection capability. This study is aimed at exploring the antimicrobial activity of filtered far-UVC (222 nm) on a panel of pathogens commonly found in nosocomial installations. A panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and yeast pathogens was tested. Microorganisms were deposited on a plastic surface, allowing them to dry before exposure to the far-UVC light at a distance of 50 cm. Results showed that far-UVC light successfully inhibits the growth of the tested pathogens, although at different exposure times. In conclusion, the results of this study provide fundamental information to achieve reliable disinfection performance with far-UVC lamps with potential applications in healthcare facilities like hospitals and long-term care homes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Antimicrobial and antifungal activities of far-UVC light exposure. CFU: colony-forming unit. Adapted from BioRender.com (2022). Retrieved from https://app.biorender.com.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Radiometry (a) and actinometry (b) setups were used to determine the fluence of the lamps.
Figure 3
Figure 3
UV lamp radiation spectra.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison between Gram-positive and Gram-negative cell walls. Adapted from [30].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Fungal cell wall organization and membrane (adapted from [39]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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