Viable air particles pose a risk in areas where sterile preparations are compounded. This study investigated the efficacy of an innovative air purification technology that uses a shielded ultraviolet C light lamp to continuously purify the air in an inpatient pharmacy. Mean airborne fungal and bacterial colony forming units were obtained preinstallation and again in 6 months. A statistically significant decrease of 78% and 62% was observed for fungal and bacterial particles, respectively. This study demonstrates a potential role for this novel technology in decreasing the spread of airborne pathogens.
Keywords: Airborne spread of infection; Infection control; Sterile compounding.
Copyright © 2018 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.