Could a Disinfecting Robot Help Tackle HAIs?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that “on any given day, about one in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection.” Given such risk to patients, let alone the cost of treatment, hospitals and healthcare systems are looking to for ways to reduce these numbers. One solution, a disinfecting robot employing short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UVC), is designed to disinfect an entire room in one cycle. A recent study explored some of the challenges to implementation and strategies to overcome them. “The CDC recently stated that C. diff rates are at an all-time high, and hospital-acquired infections continue to cost health care facilities precious lives and dollars,” explained Chuck Dunn, CEO and President of Tru-D SmartUVC. The company markets Tru-D SmartUVC, whose “UVC wavelengths are between 200 and 300 nanometers, making them germicidal – meaning they are capable of inactivating microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa,” it explained on its Web site. The technology is designed to be used after the room has been cleaned with traditional protocols. The system is the “only UVC disinfection robot with patented Sensor360 technology, which compensates for room variables such as size, shape, and contents to deliver the precise, lethal dose of UVC needed,” explained Dunn. “Operating from one placement and administering one cycle of UVC energy, Tru-D eliminates the chance for human error and...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Medical Device Business Source Type: news