In the ongoing battle to prevent the spread of dangerous viruses and drug-resistant bacteria in healthcare facilities, UV light sterilization in hospitals is a valuable tool that is becoming more widely used.
Reduce HAIs with UV Light Sterilization in Hospitals
Patients may already be immune compromised when ill and confined to a hospital bed, exposing these patients to serious viruses and bacteria on top of their illness often has dire consequences. The rate of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) as reported by the CDC is close to one out of every 31 patients. Infections can be associated with harmful pathogens on hospital surfaces in a patient room that were missed by a manual cleaning, or devices used in medical procedures that caused infection.
HAIs include ventilator-associated pneumonia, central-line associated bloodstream infections and catheter-associate urinary tract infections. Hospitals are working to prevent these types of infections with precautionary measures including proper hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, manual cleaning and disinfecting guidelines, and disinfecting all devices and tools.
In light of concerted global efforts to reduce the spread of disease, a new tool is emerging with UV light sterilization for hospitals improving safety for patients and staff with high efficacy against a wide range of pathogens.
What Viruses and Bacteria Does UVC Light Kill?
UV light for disinfection is a common practice used in hospitals and the medical industry. Most clinicians are aware of the germ-killing abilities of UV light, which penetrates the DNA and damages the nucleic acid of viruses and bacteria, destroying their ability to replicate and cause disease. The efficacy of UV light sterilization is determined by the intensity of the UV light, the distance of the UV light from the air stream or surface, and the duration of exposure.
The precise dosage of UV radiation that is needed to kill harmful pathogens is a product of the intensity of the UV light and the exposure time, which is measured in micro-watt seconds per square centimeter (mW S/cm2). According to an article in Infection Control Today, the following exposure is required to achieve an effective 99% kill rate for the following pathogens:
- Salmonella enteritidis – 7,600 mW S/cm2
- E. coli – 7,000 mW S/cm2
- Hepatitis virus – 8,000 mW S/cm2
- Aspergillus flavus – 60,000 mW S/cm2
- Shigella dysenterie – 4,200 mW S/cm2
- Rotavirus – 21,000 mW S/cm2
- Influenza virus – 6,600 mW S/cm2
- Legionella pneumophila – 3,800 mW S/cm2
UV germicidal lamps kills these pathogens and many others with the right amount of exposure at the proper distance.
Factors Affecting UV Light Sterilization Efficacy
Objects that are further away from the light source may require additional exposure time and surfaces that are blocked by an object or in a shadow affect the amount of UV radiation received to the surface. UVC radiation is a high energy that is bound to the inverse square law, which means that with increased distance the intensity of light decreases. UV light can reflect off of surfaces although the ability to reflect is dependent on the surface. It is important to keep surfaces clean as organic material absorbs UV light, thus cleaning surfaces removes organic substances prior to UV sterilization and allow more reflectivity and absorption of UV light on the surface.
UV Light Available in Many Sterilization Devices for Hospitals
UV light sterilization is available in various forms and types of devices, offering hospitals many tools to improve the safety of patients. UV light for disinfection is experiencing a renewed interest in hospitals that want to employ technology in the fight against HAIs and the spread of disease. Powerful UVC lamps can be used for surface sterilization with lamps affixed above counters, in upper room UVGI units and can be used to sterilize the air when installed properly in HVAC units.
Due to the importance of direct exposure time, UVC robots are now adding another level of safety to patients and medical staff in hospitals worldwide. A UVC robot can move itself around a room, emitting UVC radiation that can disinfect shaded areas and hard to reach places. No longer does a hospital staff member have to come into the room and reposition a UVC disinfection unit. In fact, most UVC robots shuttle themselves back to their charging station when needed.
An old weapon has reemerged as Ultraviolet Light Fights New Virus with a powerful tool to help prevent the spread of disease and protect patients and staff. In addition to growing in use in hospitals, UV light sterilization systems and UVC robots are surging in popularity as an effective and cost-efficient method of disinfection. LightSources supports OEMs of all sizes with high-quality, high-tech UVC lamps in a wide range of types and styles. UV light offers solutions with big benefits to hospitals faced with challenges in fighting superbugs.
LightSources UVC Lamps Deliver Sterilization with High Efficacy
LightSources offers a wide selection of high-quality, high-tech UVC germicidal lamps used in air, surface and water sterilization applications and for UV light sterilization in hospitals. Our lighting engineers possess deep technical knowledge of UV radiation, offering custom designed UV lamps to meet your specific requirements. With our experienced lamp designers, state-of-the-art glass factory, high-quality lamp components, and proprietary technology, we are a leading global supplier of UV sterilization lamps.
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UV Germicidal ApplicationsThe LightSources Group consists of the leading, high-tech lamp designers and engineers in the industry. We provide longer lasting, highly effective and cost-efficient UVC lamps found in sterilization applications worldwide. Contact us to learn more about our quality UV lamp products for UV light sterilization in hospitals.
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