Using ultraviolet light to reduce COVID-19 in aged care homes (ELUCIDAR study)
Ultraviolet light (of the UV-C wavelength) has been used for decades to prevent tuberculosis by disinfecting the air in the unoccupied zone. UV-C light has also been shown in laboratory studies to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses. The fixtures/ technology used are called upper room germicidal ultraviolet (UR-GUV) fixtures.
This study is called 'Effectiveness of germicidal ultraviolet Light in an Upper room Configuration In Decreasing COVID-19 in Aged-care Residential facilities’ or ELUCIDAR, and will test whether UR-GUV can reduce COVID-19 infection in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs).
The ELUCIDAR study started in November 2024 and will run for 12 months in RACFs across Victoria, Australia.
This study is a cluster-randomised controlled trial, where the ‘clusters’ are residential aged care facilities, which will be randomised to either a control or intervention group. This design allows the study team to collect and compare the outcome data between the 2 groups of RACFs and assess the real-world effectiveness of UR-GUV.
Who is conducting this study
What is this study trying to evaluate
Does UV-C light reduce COVID-19 transmission in the real-world setting?This light has been shown in laboratory studies to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses.
The main aim of this study is to measure the rate of COVID-19 infection in residents of aged care facilities that use standard infection control and prevention measures, comparing those with UR-GUV installed to those without. The study also aims to determine the effectiveness of this intervention in the real-world setting, including optimal installation and delivery of this technology.
The ELUCIDAR study will also aim to:
- measure infections caused by influenza and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) among residents and staff
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measure hospitalisations and deaths caused by COVID-19, influenza and RSV
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determine the acceptability and feasibility of UR-GUV operation in residential aged care facilities
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determine the cost-effectiveness of UR-GUV in residential aged care facilities.
How will the study test the effectiveness of UV-C light
The study recruited 61 RACFs that have 75 operational beds or more. The RACFs are in metropolitan Melbourne or Greater Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
The facilities were randomly put into 2 groups:
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RACFs that have UR-GUV fixtures (which are commercially available) installed on the ceilings of common areas. This is the intervention group.
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RACFs that have no UR-GUV fixtures installed. This is the control group.
The UR-GUV fixtures have been installed in the common areas in 30 RACFs and will remain turned on 24hrs a day for the duration of the study.
Both groups will continue to follow the current standards for infection prevention as per the Victorian Department of Health guidelines.
You can learn more about the use of germicidal ultraviolet light from the Victorian Department of Health.
Study registration and approval
The Department of Health Human Research Ethics Committee has granted the ELUCIDAR study human research ethics approval.
This study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ANZCTR – Registration (ACTRN12624000791538), an approved World Health Organization registry.
Student opportunities
Work with Know-C19
If you’re interested in working with us, please reach out to Siddhanth Sharma.
Learn more about ELUCIDAR
Learn more about this study through the Victorian Department of Health.
Partners
Funding partners
Collaborators
- University of Melbourne
- Monash University
- Queensland University of Technology
Project contacts
Main contact
Student supervisor contact
Project team
Associate Professor Suman Majumdar
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr Michelle Delaire
Co-Principal Investigator
Victorian Department of Health
Professor Helen Cox
Co-Investigator
Dr Rachel Sacks-Davis
Co-Investigator
Professor Jason Monty
Co-Investigator
University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Andrew Stewardson
Co-Investigator
Alfred Health; Monash Univesity
Dr Simon Joosten
Co-Investigator
Monash Health
Dr James McMahon
Co-Investigator
Alfred Hospital; Monash University
Dr David Lister
Co-Investigator
Victorian Department of Health
Dr Vinay Menon
Co-Investigator
Victorian Department of Health
Professor Lidia Morawska
Co-Investigator
Queensland University of Technology
Guy Marks
Co-Investigator
Christabelle Adjoyan
Project Director, Pathway to Clean Indoor Air
Ryan Barwood
Executive General Manager, Know-C19
Elizabeth Dang
Program Manager
Dr Thi Nguyen
Data Scientist
Long Nguyen
Data Manager
Emma Pakula
Senior Policy and Research Fellow, COVID and Health Emergencies
Associate Professor Alisa Pedrana
Senior Research Fellow; Deputy Discipline Head, Public Health; Eliminate Hepatitis C Australia Coordinator
Associate Professor Nick Scott
Head, Modelling and Biostatistics
Tim Spelman
Biostatistician
Professor Mark A Stoové
Head of Public Health
Daniel West
Deputy Technical Director
Dr Anna Wilkinson
Senior Research Fellow
