Allegheny Health Network Westfield (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital has introduced a germ-killing robot that helps clear the facility of dangerous bacteria and viruses.
The Xenex Robot uses ultraviolet-C light to disinfect spaces such as patient rooms, the emergency department and public areas to break up the DNA of infectious agents, including the coronavirus, MRSA, Clostridium difficile and vancomycin-resistant enterococci, according to a June 9 news release.
"Once the room is empty and has undergone a standard cleaning, an associate follows the robot into the room and runs a cycle around the bed and in other places in the room, adding another layer of protection to the hospital’s disinfection process," Kathy Walczak, RN, the hospital's nurse manager and head nurse for infection control, said in the release. "The ultraviolet light kills pathogens that can cause infection."
The hospital said it uses the robot on all shifts every day.