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Disinfection of selected Aspergillus spp. using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.

Green CF; Scarpino PV; Jensen P; Jensen NJ; Gibb SG

Can J Microbiol 2004 Mar; 50(3):221-224

https://doi.org/10.1139/w04-002

20031578

Aims: The efficacy of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) and the UVGI dose necessary to inactivate fungal spores on an agar surface for cultures of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus were determined. Methods and results: A four-chambered UVGI testing unit with a 9-W, Phillips, low pressure, mercury UVGI lamp in each chamber was used in this study. An aperture was adjusted to provide 50, 100, 150, and 200 muW/cm(2) of uniform flux to the surfaces of the Petri dish, resulting in a total UVGI dose to the surface of the Petri dishes ranging from 12 to 96 mJ/cm(2). The UVGI dose necessary to inactivate 90% of the A. flavus and A. fumigatus was 35 and 54 mJ/cm2, respectively. Conclusions: UVGI can be used to inactivate culturable fungal spores. Aspergillus flavus was more susceptible than A. fumigatus to UVGI. Significance and impact of the study: These results may not be directly correlated to the effect of UVGI on airborne fungal spores, but they indicate that current technology may not be efficacious as a supplement to ventilation unless it can provide higher doses of UVGI to kill spores traveling through the irradiated zone.

Microorganisms; Fungi; Germicides; Microbiology; Microbial-test-systems; Irradiation; Ultraviolet-light; Ultraviolet-radiation

SG Gibbs, Univ Texas, Hlth Sci Ctr, Sch Publ Hlth, El Paso Reg Campus,1100 N Stanton, El Paso, TX 79902

CJMIAZ

20040324

Journal Article

2004

3

0008-4166

HELD

Canadian Journal of Microbiology

WV; OH; TX