Effectiveness of an ultraviolet-C disinfection system for inactivating Clostridioides difficile spores in critical areas of a simulated patient room

Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) pose a significant threat to patient safety in healthcare facilities. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of an ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection system in reducing C. difficile surface contamination in a simulated patient room. The results showed an overall 98.17% reduction in C. difficile spores after UV-C treatment of directly exposed and shadowed areas, an efficiency that translated to a 4.91% reduction per minute of room vacancy. This study demonstrates that UV-C disinfection is an effective method for reducing C. difficile spores in healthcare settings, and that efficiency can be improved with shorter setup times and optimal device placement.