Could UV-C LEDs light up decontamination?

The NHS has been utilising a combination of washer-disinfectors (WDs) and autoclaves for over 50 years, with obvious industry improvements over time to reduce power and water consumption. They are the accepted 'go-to' solution for sterilisation of reusable surgical equipment from operating theatres, as well as reusable devices that do not require sterilisation. Many NHS organisations, however, have no other process to clean and disinfect them for safe re-use.

Although some of the most sophisticated WDs and autoclave models now on the market are more efficient than earlier models, many devices installed in NHS hospitals and in daily use consume between 150 and 700 litres of water per cycle.¹ They also consume the same power per cycle as an average UK domestic house uses in a 24-hour period.² Neither of these consumption levels are sustainable or environmentally responsible. Until these WDs and autoclaves reach the end of their economic life, or fail to the point of being beyond economic repair, the cost to replace them is prohibitive. Unnecessary usage should thus be avoided whenever possible, and now there is a genuine alternative.

The reason for such excessive power and water consumption is that the temperature for thermal disinfection currently is 90 °C3 for 1 minute, or 80 °C for 10 minutes in a WD, and 117 °C (steam) for an autoclave. These temperatures are potentially damaging for many materials, and contribute to reducing the life of products being subjected to them.