Implementing ultraviolet environmental disinfection decreased the rates of hospital-acquired multi-drug-resistant organism and Clostridium difficile infections by 20 percent, according to a study in American Journal of Infection Control.
Researchers at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., introduced the UVD during discharge cleaning of contact precaution rooms and other high-risk areas for 22 months.
The rates of hospital-acquired MDRO and C. diff infection rates fell from 2.67 cases per 1,000 patient days to 2.14 cases per 1,000 patient days following the implementation of UVD.
Researchers concluded the UVD technology was feasible to use in their facility and appeared to have a beneficial effect.
More Articles on Infection Control:
Should Handshakes Be Banned From Healthcare?
Florida Health Workers Test Negative for MERS
Hospital Wastewater a Reservoir of Antibiotic-Resistant E. coli