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Effectiveness of ultraviolet-C light treatment of shoes in reducing the transfer of pathogens into patient rooms by shoes of healthcare personnel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 September 2022

Maria M. Torres-Teran Open the ORCID record for Maria M. Torres-Teran [Opens in a new window] ,
Christina T.P. Bennett ,
Andrew O. Osborne Open the ORCID record for Andrew O. Osborne [Opens in a new window] ,
Jennifer L. Cadnum ,
Brigid M. Wilson Open the ORCID record for Brigid M. Wilson [Opens in a new window]  and
Curtis J. Donskey
Maria M. Torres-Teran
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Christina T.P. Bennett
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Andrew O. Osborne
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
Jennifer L. Cadnum
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Brigid M. Wilson
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Curtis J. Donskey*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
*
Author for correspondence: Curtis J. Donskey, E-mail: curtis.donskey@va.gov
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Abstract

Contaminated shoes are a potential vector for dissemination of healthcare-associated pathogens. We demonstrated that healthcare personnel walking into patient rooms frequently transferred pathogens from their shoes to the floor. An 8-second treatment of shoes with a UV-C decontamination device significantly reduced the frequency of transfer of vegetative bacterial pathogens.

Type
Concise Communication
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 44 , Issue 8 , August 2023 , pp. 1361 - 1364
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Creative Commons
This is a work of the US Government and is not subject to copyright protection within the United States. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
Copyright
© Department of Veterans Affairs, 2022

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References

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