Irradiance levels of phototherapy devices: a national study in Dutch neonatal intensive care units.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine whether irradiance levels of phototherapy (PT) devices in Dutch neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) increased between 2008 and 2013.

STUDY DESIGN: Irradiance of all types of PT devices, used in combination with incubators, was measured with a Dale 40 Radiometer (Fluke Biomedical, Everett, WA, USA) in all 10 Dutch NICUs.

RESULTS: Irradiance increased in seven NICUs. Median (range) irradiance increased from 9.7 (4.3-32.6) to 16.4 (6.8-41) μW cm-2  nm-1 for 24 overhead devices (P=0.004) and from 6.8 (0.8-15.6) to 22.3 (1.1-36.3) μW cm-2  nm-1 for 12 underneath devices (P=0.014). Five light-emitting diode (LED)-based devices were used in 2013 and one in 2008. The mean distance between overhead PT device and infant decreased by ~9 cm (P<0.001). Significantly more devices delivered minimal (10 μW cm-2  nm-1 ) recommended irradiance levels (80 vs ~45%; P=0.002).

CONCLUSION: Irradiance of PT devices still varies, but has markedly improved since 2008 due to shorter distances between PT device and infant, and introduction of better performing LED-based devices.