![]() They found that SARS-CoV-2 is relatively stable on smooth surfaces: the virus remained viable up to 1 day on cloth and wood, up to 2 days on glass, 4 days on stainless steel and plastic, and up to 7 days on the outer layer of medical face masks compared to this, the virus was not present on printing and tissue paper after only 3-h of having been contaminated. have recently investigated the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental conditions and on different surfaces. It should be noted that the use of gloves depends on local regulations and that it is strictly recommended only when cleaning or caring for someone who is sick presently, patients and visitors do not usually wear gloves in hospital settings.Ī recent paper on contamination status of the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University has confirmed that many surfaces in various patient care areas were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 and that the virus was present on commonly used objects (such as hand sanitizer dispensers, desk surfaces and computer keyboards, coffee dispenser buttons, etc), and on medical equipment (such as pulse oximetry finger clips, oxygen masks, Computed Tomography (CT) scanner and personal protection equipment). There is, however, evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can also be transmitted via contaminated surfaces when people touch these surfaces (and then subsequently touch their mouths or eyes), or when the virus on these surfaces becomes airborne again and is then inhaled. The spread of SARS-Cov-2 is thought mostly to be via the transmission of respiratory droplets and aerosol particles coming from infected individuals, and this has led to the conclusion that social distancing and the use of face masks are the most effective tools for containing the transmission of the virus. In the absence of instruments dedicated to direct verification of irradiance, photochromic UV-C dosimeters may represent a useful tool for easily verifying that a proper UV-C dose has been delivered.Īs the Covid-19 pandemic progressed, it became clear that hospitals can be significant epicenters of human to human transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for healthcare workers, patients and visitors alike. To use UV-C lamps effectively, it is necessary to follow a few simple precepts when choosing, positioning and verifying the lamps. ![]() ![]() We therefore consider it precautionary to increase the calculated times by at least 20%. In the absence of suitable equipment for measuring irradiance, the calculated irradiation time can be underestimated. Only by optimizing the positioning and calculating the exposure time correctly, is it possible to dispense the dose necessary to obtain SARS-CoV-2 inactivation. Our results show that the spatial emission of UV-C lamps is strongly dependent on the power of the lamps and on the design of their reflectors. Finally, we tested specific dosimeters for UV-C. We quantify the error that is committed by calculating the irradiation time based exclusively on the technical data of the lamps or by making direct irradiance measurements. ![]() We studied three UV-C lamps, measuring their spatial irradiance and emission over time. Our aim is to provide some practical indications for the correct use of UV-C lamps. UltraViolet-C (UV-C) lamps may be used to supplement current hospital cleaning and disinfection of surfaces contaminated by SARS-CoV-2.
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