In search of the holy grail of environmental cleaning and disinfection: Effective and safe continuous air and surface disinfection technologies

BACKGROUND: There is a need for development of effective and safe continuous air and surface disinfection technologies that can be used as an adjunct to routine cleaning and surface disinfection in health care settings. METHODS: The published English literature was searched for articles on continuous air and surface disinfection technologies. RESULTS: Far-ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light is a promising candidate for continuous air and surface disinfection in occupied spaces, but additional evidence is needed regarding long-term safety and efficacy. Delivery of far UV-C only when people are outside the area of exposure (ie, the lamps off when motion is detected) could provide the benefits of far UV-C while minimizing safety concerns. Several studies suggest that air cleaning technologies that produce reactive oxygen species, hydroxyl radicals, or hydrogen peroxide gas may reduce air or surface contamination, and in 2 studies, reductions in health care-associated infections were reported. However, higher-quality laboratory and clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings. Glycol vapor has re-emerged as a candidate air and surface disinfection technology that is actively being evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: There are several promising candidate technologies that could provide continuous or intermittent low-level disinfection of air and surfaces in health care settings.