Dosimetry Strategies for Non-Autonomous UV-C Robots

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the coverage and disinfection effectiveness of SIDUV-C, a non-autonomous UV-C robot operating at a wavelength of 254 nm and a power output of 3900 W, which made it the most powerful in its category. Experimental methods included the determination of UV irradiation doses, UV-Vis spectral analysis, and modeling of irradiance fields to estimate the systems ability to deliver adequate doses of UV energy to target surfaces or airborne pathogens. Commercially available dosimetric films sensitive to UV-C radiation were employed to quantify doses across different spatial regions, and their accuracy was validated against UV spectroradiometry techniques and microbiological assays with methicillin-resistant Staphyloccoccus aureus (MRSA). The results demonstrated that both dosimetric films and spectroradiometer measurements consistently indicated the robot's rapid and effective disinfection performance across an unshaded area of 12.25 m2. The doses delivered were sufficient to neutralize a wide range of bacterial species commonly found in hospital environments across Latin America, including multidrug-resistant pathogens, thus underscoring the potential of UV-C disinfection robots as a critical tool in mitigating antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings.