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Surface-level conditions play an important role in environmental hygiene quality in indoor environments. Though this is the case, how microorganisms persist on surfaces is not entirely understood. Here is a closer look at what we do know.
Disinfecting at the Surface: A Vital Step in Combating Microorganisms
Environmental disinfection practices can involve a number of different areas in indoor spaces. Furniture, walls, and floors are all potential areas for environmental contamination. 
On these inanimate surfaces, various microorganisms can persist for different durations.1 Depending on the species, environmental conditions, and the type of surface involved, different microorganisms can survive for hours, days, weeks, or months at a time.2 3
Factors Affecting Microorganism Survival Time on Surfaces: Species, Material, and Environment
How long a microorganism may last on a surface environment depends on a few factors, the first being the species of microorganism involved.4
The second factor may be the surface itself. A surface may be wet or dry, or be made of a substance that contributes to, or reduces, survival time.5 Surface compositions may also play a role.
There have been laboratory studies, for example, that have shown higher survival rates on cardboard surfaces over plastic surfaces. Lab studies have shown a difference in survival rates over time on stainless steel , depending on environmental conditions.6 Still other studies show decreased survival rates over time on wood surfaces.7 Overall, survival durations differ when different surfaces are involved.8
The final factor in a microorganism’s surface survival duration is its environment. In some bacteria species, for example, lab growth has been associated with variations in temperature and pH levels.9 Longer survival times in some species of bacteria have also been associated with surface environments with high relative humidities.10
Survival Durations of Microorganisms on Surfaces: A Closer Look at Different Species
Different species of microorganisms appear, at least in laboratory conditions, to have different surface survival durations. For example, survival durations of some different microorganisms on glass surfaces include:
- Klebsiella pneumoniae - 3 days
- Staphylococcus aureus - 7 days
- Acinetobacter baumanni - 28 days12
These survival rates may differ depending on surface conditions. What is certain, however, is that there are disinfection solutions that address such microorganisms.
UVD Robots: Autonomous Robots Delivering High-Efficiency Environmental Disinfection with UV Light
UVD Robots are an environmental disinfection solution that addresses different forms of microorganisms, especially microorganisms that occur on surfaces in indoor areas.
As a disinfection solution that utilizes Ultraviolet light, or UV light, UVD Robots can operate autonomously with minimal human contact. These are self-driving robots, which have been shown to reduce microorganisms at very high rates of efficacy.
UVD Robots use lamps that emit UV light at wavelengths of 254 nm – a wavelength associated in laboratory tests with over 3-log reductions of Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumanni, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, representing a reduction rate of over 99.9%.13 14
Reducing Surface-Level Microorganisms: The Benefits of Autonomous UV Light Disinfection with UVD Robots
Surface-level microorganisms are able to survive for different durations depending on their species, the surface composition, and other environmental factors.
UVD Robots, part of the Danish company Blue Ocean Robotics, are an autonomous robotic solution for surface-level environmental disinfection. They utilize UV light at wavelengths of 254 nm, wavelengths associated with high log reductions of different microorganisms.
With automated UV light disinfection solutions such as UVD Robots, surface-level microorganisms can be reduced at high rates of efficacy – providing cleaner environments for indoor areas.