Can UV light effectively disinfect mattresses?
No. Research shows that UV light is not capable of achieving the necessary 6-log reduction in pathogens recommended for mattresses even on hard surfaces.43-46 The FDA has acknowledged that UV light is not effective on soft, porous surfaces such as hospital mattresses.47 Furthermore, UV light has been ineffective at decreasing C. diff rates in healthcare facilities.43,48,49 UV has also been shown to damage polymers used in healthcare facilities,19 such as the materials used to make mattress covers. Damage to the mattress cover could lead to fluid ingress to the mattress core, making disinfection impossible.
FOLLOW-UP: Ask your mattress manufacturer if they recommend using UV light for disinfection on the mattress or if it will cause damage to the polyurethane mattress surface.
References
19. Raeiszadeh M, Adeli B. A critical review on ultraviolet disinfection systems against COVID-19 outbreak: applicability, validation, and safety considerations. ACS Photonics. 2020;acshphotonics.0c01245. doi:10.1021/acsphotonics.0c01245
43. Anderson DJ, Chen LF, Weber DJ, et al. Enhanced terminal room disinfection and acquisition and infection caused by multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile (the Benefits of Enhanced Terminal Room Disinfection study): a cluster-randomised, multicentre, crossover study. Lancet. 2017;389(10071):805-814. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31588-4
44. Anderson DJ, Gergen MF, Smathers E, et al. Decontamination of targeted pathogens from patient rooms using an automated ultraviolet-C-emitting device. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2013;34(5):466-471. doi:10.1086/670215
45. Havill NL, Moore BA, Boyce JM. Comparison of the microbiological efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapor and ultraviolet light processes for room decontamination. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012;33(5):507-512. doi:10.1086/665326
46. Kitagawa H, Nomura T, Nazmul T, et al. Effectiveness of 222-nm ultraviolet light on disinfecting SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination. Am J Infect Control. 2020. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.08.022
47. UV Lights and Lamps: Ultraviolet-C Radiation, Disinfection, and Coronavirus. fda.gov. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/uv-lights-and-lamps-ultraviolet-c-radiation-disinfection-and-coronavirus. Updated August 19, 2020. Accessed September 4, 2020.
48. Attia F, Whitener C, Mincemoyer S, Houck J, Julian K. The effect of pulsed xenon ultraviolet light disinfection on healthcare-associated Clostridioides difficile rates in a tertiary care hospital. Am J Infect Control. 2020;48(9):1116-1118. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2019.12.019
49. McMullen K, Guth RM, Wood H, et al. Impact of no-touch ultraviolet light room disinfection systems on Clostridioides difficile infections. Am J Infect Control. 2021;49(5):646-648. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.08.030