Portable UV-C device to treat high flow of infectious aerosols generated during clinical respiratory care

Richard Vincent, David Rapoport, Priti Balchandani, Joseph Borrello, Michael Schotsaert, Robert Karlicek, Gabriel Laghlali, Prajakta Warang, Seokchan Park, Gagandeep Singh, Isabella Morgan, James Paredes, Raveen Rathnasinghe, Jacob Wolf, Adolfo García-Sastre

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Respiratory interventions including noninvasive ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure and high-flow nasal oxygen generated infectious aerosols may increase risk of airborne disease (SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus) transmission to healthcare workers. We developed and tested a prototype portable UV-C254 device to sterilize high flows of viral-contaminated air from a simulated patient source at airflow rates of up to 100 l/m. Our device consisted of a central quartz tube surrounded 6 high-output UV-C254 lamps, within a larger cylinder allowing recirculation past the UV-C254 lamps a second time before exiting the device. Testing was with nebulized A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) influenza virus. RNA extraction and qRT-PCR showed virus transited through the prototype. Turning on varying numbers of lamps controlled the dose of UVC. Viability experiments at low, medium and high (100 l/min) flows of contaminated gas were conducted with 6, 4, 2 and 1 lamp activated (single-pass and recirculation were tested). Our data show 5-log reduction in plaque forming units from a single lamp (single- pass and recirculated conditions) at high and low flows. UVC dose at 100 l/m was calculated at 11.6 mJ/cm2 single pass and 104 mJ/cm2 recirculated. The protype device shows high efficacy in killing nebulized influenza virus in a high flow of contaminated air.

Original languageEnglish
Article number31799
JournalScientific Reports
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024

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