Impact of a UV-C Multiemitter Disinfection System on Hospital Environmental Bioburden and Inactivation of Clinically Relevant Pathogens

Healthcare-associated infections remain a central hospital challenge, particularly in critical areas where invasive procedures and microbial contamination overlap. The hospital environment, including air and high-touch surfaces, acts as a persistent microorganism source that favors stability and spread. UV-C disinfection systems have become complementary tools to conventional cleaning. This study evaluated the disinfectant efficacy of a 254 nm multiemitter UV-C system under in situ and in vitro conditions. A 254 nm UV-C multiemitter system was deployed to eight hospital areas selected for epidemiological relevance. Air and surface sampling were conducted before and after standardized UV-C cycles. The bacterial and fungal aerobiome was quantified (CFU/m3) and surfaces were characterized by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. In vitro assays tested efficacy against planktonic cultures and mature biofilms of clinical ESKAPE isolates and C. albicans. The UV-C intervention achieved mean aerobiome reductions above 91.5%, with complete elimination in multiple critical zones. Surface contamination was reduced by 96.1%, including total disinfection across several sampled points. In vitro testing showed ≥99.99% to 100% elimination of planktonic microorganisms. Mature biofilms exhibited full loss of viability after UV-C exposure, independent of biofilm architecture and structural complexity. Therefore, the 254 nm UV-C multiemitter system significantly reduced environmental microbial burden in critical hospital areas, supporting its integration within infection-prevention programs and reinforcing environmental biosafety through the control of the microbial sources involved in transmission dynamics.