Design, Simulation and Implementation of a Disinfection System for the Operating Room with Ultraviolet UV-C Light

Abstract

This study evaluated the efficacy of ultraviolet-C (UV-C, 254 nm) radiation for the disinfection of operating rooms in accordance with ISO 14644-1:2015, aiming to reduce microbial and viral loads on critical surfaces such as walls, floors, and medical equipment. An experimental-simulated methodology was employed for the design, modeling, and optimization of a UV-C germicidal system, considering physical, microbiological, and energy efficiency parameters. Specialized software, including ANSYS 2023 R1 Workbench, Fluent, and DIALux Evo, was used to generate three-dimensional models of the operating room and simulate the spatial distribution of irradiance.

Results demonstrated that UV-C irradiation achieved doses exceeding germicidal thresholds necessary to inactivate common and resistant pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium difficile, through genetic material disruption. The simulation identified areas of low irradiance, allowing optimization of six 40 W lamps positioned at 1.50 m on the side walls, ensuring homogeneous coverage and eliminating shadowed zones. An exposure time of 10 minutes was determined sufficient to achieve the germicidal effect on surfaces most distant from the radiation sources.

This study provides a solid technical basis for the implementation of UV-C systems in operating rooms, enhancing hospital disinfection protocols and validating the practical feasibility of this technology in real clinical environments, such as the operating room at Shushufindi Basic Hospital, Ecuador, thereby improving biosafety and reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections.