The ongoing Candida Auris (C. auris) outbreak in hospitals and long-term care facilities across the United States continues to highlight the critical importance of effective disinfection protocols. A form of highly drug-resistant yeast, C. auris poses a serious threat to patients weakened by existing conditions and holds the potential for triggering invasive complications in those vulnerable patients.
Studying the Candida Auris Outbreak
A study released by the Department of Health and Human Resources in 2021 explored the use and potential efficacy of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) in combating C. auris. The study “…demonstrated that UVGI is an effective approach for inactivating C. auris…” and also stated that “Many challenges remain that limit our understanding of the doses of UV that can be delivered to different locations within a healthcare environment using UV-C devices, as well as feasible methods to measure and monitor the doses delivered to various surfaces.” *
This is an inaccurate statement given that, at the time of the study, an existing highly accurate system had been in use at medical facilities across the US (and around the globe) for nearly a decade. First introduced in 2011, the RD UVC Mobile Disinfection System uses patented remote Sure-Safe™ UVC Sensors that measure and record both reflected and direct light to accurately determine the actual dosage per pathogen delivered to targeted areas of interest and report that data in real-time.
Fighting Candida Auris Transmission
The RD UVC Mobile System and the RD-Fx™ Fixed System can be precisely calibrated to target specific pathogens and deliver UV light dosage equal to or greater than that which is required to effectively reduce targeted pathogens – including emergent drug resistant fungal strains such as C. auris, ensuring that the correct level and duration of dosage is delivered to the targeted area.
In fact, in 2012, to ensure a repeatable, measurable process, researchers chose the RD UVC System to validate the UVC dose required to kill C. diff at 3.4log10 reduction or 99.96%, as it was the only system which could provide the accuracy of reporting to verify that dosage.
The RD UVC Systems can flood a room with enough UVC energy to provide the dose necessary to achieve a greater than 3+log10 reduction of the targeted pathogen – each and every disinfection cycle.
The RD-Fx Fixed System: Fast and Effective
- For SARSCoV-2, the dose setting is 10,000μW per sec/cm2, which is typically delivered in about 45 seconds.
- For C. diff, the dose setting is 46,000μW per sec/cm2, which is typically delivered in about two minutes.
- For C. auris, the dose setting is 60,000μW per sec/cm2, which is typically in under three minutes. **
Limiting the Candida Auris Treatment Time
RD UVC Systems enable the shortest average treatment time, documented in real-time. Critical information – including date, time, operator, room number, cycle time, and measured, delivered dose – is captured via In-Trak™ Disinfection Tracking Software, ensuring maximum efficacy and compliance levels are met.
To be clear, thanks to the RD UVC Systems, “…feasible methods to measure and monitor the doses delivered to various surfaces” do indeed exist and have for over a decade.
Get the whole truth about UVC disinfection
*Inactivation of the multi-drug resistant pathogen Candida auris using germicidal irradiation
HHS Public Access Author manuscript J Hosp Infect Author made available in PMC 2021 0ctober 10.
**NIH_PMC 8767514
