JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Virtual reality (VR) headsets are increasingly used in healthcare settings yet processes to establish safe use between patients through disinfection are not well established. Disinfection with ultraviolet-C light (UV-C) offers a no-touch, low-cost, and passive method to achieve disinfection without the harms of chemical disinfectants.

Objective:

To determine the efficacy of UV-C disinfection of VR headsets through quantifying UV-C irradiance and bacterial killing of three, commercially available devices.

Methods:

Three commercially available, low-cost, UV-C devices were tested for UV-C energy output at multiple positions across the devices’ zone of disinfection. The top and lens of the VR headset, the Meta Oculus Quest 2, were inoculated with three strains of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus epidermidis and subjected to UV-C disinfection. The primary outcome was amount of bacterial killing.

Results:

UV-C irradiance increased with exposure time, proximity, and angle to the bulb for all three devices. Variability in the log-reductions in growth of specific bacterial strains was observed; however in general, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were more readily killed than Staphylococcus epidermidis, with better killing occurring with increased UV-C exposure times. Bacterial quantities reduced across all experiments after UV-C disinfection was performed; however, in no experiment was all bacteria killed.

Conclusions:

At least three-log10 killing of all strains of bacteria was achieved across all UV-C devices; however, there was variability by organism with respect to UV-C device and VR headset location within the device. UV-C energy output was highest with longer exposure times and closer proximity to the bulb. UV-C can be an effective method of disinfection for VR equipment with low-level contamination.