Facilities of all types are constantly faced with the problem of mold. From flood events to large wall and ceiling cavities where mold can grow undetected and the typical age of a building, mold can exist in many places. Unless effectively eradicated, mold can continue to spread and cause issues.
UVC disinfection has been shown to be effective against mold and is a chemical-free method of ridding the environment of mold and other unwanted microorganisms.
What is aspergillus?
Aspergillus is a type of mold (fungus) that is commonly found in the environment, particularly in soil and decaying organic matter. There are hundreds of species within the Aspergillus genus, and they play both beneficial and harmful roles in the environment.
Aspergillus includes various species causing respiratory and systemic infections, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems. Conventional cleaning methods may not always be effective in eliminating these microorganisms from the environment. However, UVC disinfection technology has offered a promising solution to combat Aspergillus and other unwanted microorganisms.
Real-world results
In a study, “First UK evaluation of an automated ultraviolet-C room decontamination device (Tru-D®)” (Mahida, et al),1 the Tru-D device was shown effective against aspergillus.
The Tru-D device had the greatest efficacy in the line-of-sight setting against all the pathogens (mean log10 reduction: >4; 99.99% reduction).
The authors further stated that the advantages of the Tru-D device include ease of use, does not require monitoring of the device during a disinfection cycle and limited training with staff is required.
Lastly, the authors noted that traditional cleaning of the room is still required because of the need to remove debris such as fecal material.
Conclusion
In summary, UVC is effective in reducing fungal contamination in the environment.
If your facility is facing issues with mold, consider using UVC technology to combat the problem. If you’d like more information about Tru-D devices, click here or email info@tru-d.com.
References
- Mahida, N, et al (2013). First UK evaluation of an automated Ultraviolet-C room decontamination device (Tru-D). Journal of Hospital Infection, 05(005), 1-4.
