Open AccessA Practical Assessment of the Disinfectant Efficacy of UV Light with and without Ozone Using a Novel Transfer Hatch in a Research Animal Facility
Author(s) -
JiaoJiao Qiao,
Jingjing Li,
Chunhui Li,
Yong Qi,
Liyu Chen,
ShanNi Wang,
Paul E Honess,
Yunbo Liu,
Chen Zhang,
Qingxia Liu,
Bin Yi,
ChangQing Gao
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of the american association for laboratory animal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2769-6677
pISSN - 1559-6109
DOI - 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-21-000131
Subject(s) - disinfectant , acinetobacter baumannii , ozone , water disinfection , pseudomonas aeruginosa , staphylococcus aureus , photodynamic therapy , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , environmental science , biology , bacteria , environmental engineering , organic chemistry , genetics
Most in vivo animal research and breeding using mice and rats in China takes place in facilities under barrier conditions. Items being moved across the barrier are typically disinfected using UV radiation in a transfer hatch. However, the time periods necessary for this disinfection technique are inefficient, and disinfection is frequently incomplete, especially if concealed surfaces are present. The current study used a newly developed transfer hatch incorporating both UV and ozone disinfection to examine disinfection efficacy against 4 bacteria species ( Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii ). Disinfection trials used UV and ozone, applied separately and in combination, for up to 30 min. Separate and combined treatments were also tested with a UV barrier. We found that if UV radiation has direct contact with surfaces, it is an efficient disinfection method. However, where surfaces are concealed by a UV barrier, UV radiation performs relatively poorly. The results of this study indicate that a combination of UV and ozone produces the most effective disinfection and is markedly quicker than current disinfection times for UV applied on its own. This novel transfer hatch design therefore allows more complete and efficient disinfection, improves workflow, and reduces barrier breaches by pathogens that may affect animal health and welfare and compromise research outcomes.