Impact of an ultraviolet air sterilizer on cardiac surgery patients, a randomized clinical trial

Med Clin (Barc). 2018 Oct 23;151(8):299-307. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2018.04.015. Epub 2018 May 25.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Background: Numerous studies have evaluated the use of ultraviolet-C devices for terminal disinfection in hospitals, however, to date there is little information about the device's final impact on patients. We investigated the effect of an ultraviolet air sterilizer (UVAS) on the clinical outcomes of cardiac surgery patients.

Materials and methods: This random, prospective and non-interventional study included 1097 adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery: 522 stayed in an ICU room with UVAS (Medixair®) and 575 patients ICU room without UVAS and were used as a control. The primary outcome measure was to evaluate the effect of a UVAS on the overall prevalence of nosocomial infections in postoperative cardiac patients in ICUs.

Results: No significant differences in ventilator-associated pneumonia (4.6% vs. 5.0%, p=0.77) and total infection (14.0% vs. 15.5%, p=0.45) rates were detected in patients with and without the UVAS. The length of stay in the intensive care unit and at the hospital was similar in both groups, UVAS (4.6 (8.2) days and 18.3 (5.5) days) and without UVAS (4.6 (7.3) days and 19.2 (18.6) days). The 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 5.3%, no significant differences between groups were observed (p=0.053).

Conclusion: Novel ultraviolet-C technology has not been shown to significantly reduce nosocomial infections or mortality rates in cardiac surgery patients.

Keywords: Infección nosocomial; Intensive care unit; Nosocomial infection; Outcomes; Resultados, Esterilización; Sterilization; Ultraviolet; Ultravioleta; Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Air Microbiology
  • Air*
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / statistics & numerical data*
  • Coronary Care Units / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control
  • Elective Surgical Procedures
  • Female
  • Fungi
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / microbiology
  • Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / prevention & control
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sterilization / instrumentation*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultraviolet Rays*