Efficacy of 233 nm LED far UV-C-radiation against clinically relevant bacterial strains in the phase 2/ step 2 in vitro test on basis of EN 14561 and on an epidermis cell model

Healthcare-acquired infections and overuse of antibiotics are a common problem. Rising emergence of antibiotic and antiseptic resistances requires new methods of microbial decontamination or decolonization as the use of far-UV-C radiation. The microbicidal efficacy of UV-C radiation (222 nm, 233 nm, 254 nm) was determined in a quantitative carrier test and on a 3D-epidermis model against Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. lugdunensis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To mimic realistic conditions, sodium chloride solution mucin, albumin, artificial saliva, artificial wound exudate and artificial sweat were used. In sodium chloride solution, irradiation with a dose of 40 mJ/cm2 (233 nm) was sufficient to achieve 5 lg reduction independent of bacteria genus or species. In artificial sweat, albumin and artificial wound exudate, a reduction >3 lg was reached for most of the bacteria. Mucin and artificial saliva decreased the reduction to <2 lg. On 3D epidermis models, reduction was lower than in the carrier test. UV-C radiation at 233 nm was proven to be efficient in bacteria inactivation independent of genus or species thus being a promising candidate for clinical use in the presence of humans and on skin/mucosa.