The Effectiveness of Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) Irradiation on the Viability of Airborne Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( Pa ) is the predominant bacterial pathogen in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and can be transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei. Little is known about the ability of ultraviolet band C (UV-C) irradiation to inactivate Pa at doses and conditions relevant to implementation in indoor clinical settings. We assessed the effectiveness of UV-C (265 nm) at up to seven doses on the decay of nebulized Pa aerosols (clonal Pa strain) under a range of experimental conditions. Experiments were done in a 400 L rotating sampling drum. A six-stage Andersen cascade impactor was used to collect aerosols inside the drum and the particle size distribution was characterized by an optical particle counter. UV-C effectiveness was characterized relative to control tests (no UV-C) of the natural decay of Pa . We performed 112 tests in total across all experimental conditions. The addition of UV-C significantly increased the inactivation of Pa compared with natural decay alone at all but one of the UV-C doses assessed. UV-C doses from 246–1968 µW s/cm 2 had an estimated effectiveness of approximately 50–90% for airborne Pa . The effectiveness of doses ≥984 µW s/cm 2 were not significantly different from each other ( p -values: 0.365 to ~1), consistent with a flattening of effectiveness at higher doses. Modelling showed that delivering the highest dose associated with significant improvement in effectiveness (984 µW s/cm 2 ) to the upper air of three clinical rooms would lead to lower room doses from 37–49% of the 8 h occupational limit. Our results suggest that UV-C can expedite the inactivation of nebulized airborne Pa under controlled conditions, at levels that can be delivered safely in occupied settings. These findings need corroboration, but UV-C may have potential applications in locations where people with CF congregate, coupled with other indoor and administrative infection control measures.