Effectiveness of pulsed-xenon light after terminal cleaning in the OR

Editor's Note

When used after terminal cleaning, the pulsed-xenon ultraviolet light (PX-UV) significantly reduced contamination on high-touch surfaces in the OR, this study finds.

This analysis included 1,464 surface samples from 136 ORs at 23 hospitals after terminal cleaning and again after PX-UV disinfection. Results showed the average colony forming units (CFUs) after terminal cleaning ranged from 5.8 to 34.37 and after PX-UV, from 0.69 to 6.43.

Terminal cleaning alone left 67% of surfaces still positive for CFUs. After PX-UV disinfection, that number decreased to 38%, for a 44% reduction.

PX-UV disinfection can be used as an adjunct to terminal cleaning processes, the authors conclude.