Dialyzing room disinfection with ultra-violet irradiation.

Abstract

Infections represent a major problem in dialysis treatment, thus the dialyzing room should be kept abacterial as possible. We have installed 15-watt ultra-violet (U-V.) lamps for every 13.5 m2 on the ceiling for the purpose of the room disinfection and used them for 16 hours nightly after working hours. Bacteria were killed with over 10 hours irradiation even at the areas of low U-V. intensity where the irradiation may not be direct. This unexpected effectiveness might be from the influence of reflected rays and 03 produced. When half the lamps were turned on, the bacteriocidal effect was not sufficient in some areas. Any living organism with nucleic acids must be inactivated by this treatment, for the baceteriocidal effect is due to the nucleic acids injury. Furthermore, safety, readiness after the treatment, easy application and the negligible costs would make this method more advantageous to the other methods in room disinfection.