A new study shows that ultraviolet
disinfection technology eliminates up to 97.7 percent of pathogens in the
operating room. Using this light wavelength might help defeat superbugs.
Could light help lower the risk of
dangerous infections in hospitals?
The study,
published in the American Journal
of Infection Control, examined the effects of a type of ultraviolet (UV)
light technology called PurpleSun.
This technology is designed for use
in operating rooms, patient rooms, and other healthcare settings.
The study shows that the device can
help reduce the risk of infections acquired in the hospital.
These infections cost billions of
dollars, and some estimates state that they cause almost 100,000
deaths each year in the United States.
In the current study, researchers
used over 3,000 microbiological samples from 100 different surgical cases at
three hospitals in the New York area.
Researchers then looked at how well
the PurpleSun technology worked. They found that it eliminated most pathogens.
PurpleSun is unique, as it has
foldable partitions, which means that it can surround equipment on all sides,
and its light hits five surface points. It also uses high levels of UV
intensity in 90-second intervals for optimum effect.
"[UV] light technology will not
replace manual cleaning and disinfection with chemicals, but it has a place in
healthcare settings," says Donna Armellino, lead author of the study and
vice president of infection prevention at Northwell Health. She explains:
"This technology can optimize
environmental cleanliness, resulting in decreased pathogens that could
potentially cause infection."
Donna Armellino
Healthcare-associated
infections
The last thing anyone wants to
experience is getting some sort of infection in a healthcare environment, such
as an operating room or hospital, while they're already seeking medical care.
This type of infection, called a
healthcare-associated infection (HAI), happens frequently. According to the
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, around 1 in 25 inpatients
has an infection that's directly related to hospital care.
Certain factors can raise someone's
risk of developing an HAI; these include catheters, having surgery, getting a
shot, and being in a healthcare setting that has not been properly disinfected.
Also, there is a risk of catching an
infection from a healthcare worker who is sick. Overuse of antibiotics can play
a part, as well.
The U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services estimate that over 1 million HAIs
develop within the country's health system every single year.
HAIs can result in severe
complications, and outcomes are often poor. These infections cost billions of
dollars each year in healthcare spending and other costs, and HAIs remain a
focus for people who work in public health.
UV light
in the healthcare setting
Using UV light for disinfection
purposes is not a novel idea.
In 1877, two Englishmen published a paper in the
journal Nature describing
how sunlight prohibited the growth of microorganisms.
Studies have looked at UV light in
relation to cutting down on airborne pathogens, and work continues to see if
this type of technology can be of further use, including the current study,
which looks at UV light technology and its use in the operating room.
PurpleSun definitely has its
advantages, as it eliminates human error and other common pitfalls of chemical
disinfecting agents. It also affects multiple surfaces within seconds and has a
configuration that allows it to reach all sides of a piece of equipment. As
this study shows, it is very effective at eliminating pathogens.
As
Armellino says, while UV disinfection technology should not completely replace
manual cleaning, it can be a great accompaniment to regular disinfection
routines.
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