Particularly in microbiological laboratories and areas in intensive medical use, regular and thorough disinfection of surfaces is required in order to reduce the numbers of bacteria and to prevent bacterial transmission. The conventional methods of disinfection with wiping are not effective in the longer term, cannot be standardized, are time- and staff-intensive and use aggressive chemicals. Disinfection with hard ultraviolet C (UVC) light is usually not satisfactory, as the depth of penetration is inadequate and there are occupational medicine risks. Photocatalytic oxidation on surfaces coated with @entity6701 ( @entity3759 ) might offer a possible alternative. In the presence of water and @entity26 , highly reactive @entity2145 -radicals are generated by @entity3759 and mild ultraviolet A (UVA). These radicals are able to destroy bacteria, and may therefore be effective in reducing bacterial contamination. Direct irradiation with UVC however can produce areas of shadow in which bacteria are not inactivated. Using targeted light guidance and a light-guiding sheet (out of a UVA-transmittant, Plexiglas, for example), as in the method described in the present study, bacterial inactivation over the entire area is possible. The effectiveness of the method was demonstrated using bacteria relevant to hygiene such as @entity526 , @entity796 , @entity794 and @entity6375 . For these bacteria, a reduction efficiency (RE) more than 6log10 steps in 60 min was observed. Using @entity5132 , a RE of 2log10 steps in 60 min was seen. Light and scanning electron microscopic examinations suggest that the germ destruction achieved takes place through direct damage to cell walls caused by @entity2145 -radicals.

Disinfection of surfaces by photocatalytic oxidation with XXXX and UVA light.

@entity796 :: ('287', 'Species') :: ['Pseudomonas aeruginosa'] @entity26 :: ('MESH:D010100', 'Chemical') :: ['oxygen'] @entity3759 :: ('CHEBI:32234', 'Chemical') :: ['TiO2'] @entity794 :: ('1280', 'Species') :: ['Staphylococcus aureus'] @entity5132 :: ('5476', 'Species') :: ['Candida albicans'] @entity6375 :: ('1352', 'Species') :: ['Enterococcus faecium'] @entity6701 :: ('MESH:C009495', 'Chemical') :: ['titanium dioxide'] @entity2145 :: ('MESH:C031356', 'Chemical') :: ['OH'] @entity526 :: ('562', 'Species') :: ['Escherichia coli']
@entity6701 :: (MESH:C009495,Chemical) :: ['titanium dioxide']
