Combining pulsed xenon ultraviolet disinfection with terminal manual cleaning helps reduce the acquisition rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

This study aimed to investigate the effect of adding pulsed xenon UV (PX-UV) disinfection to the terminal cleaning protocol on the rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acquisition at a Japanese hospital. The use of a PX-UV disinfec tion device was added to the manual terminal cleaning protocol applied after the discharge or transfer of patients treated in the intensive and high care units. We used a Poisson regression model to examine the incidence of MRSA acquisition, based on the study period, PX-UV intervention status, unit type, and the rate of consumption of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR). Approximately 86% of the rooms in the intervention units were terminally disinfected with the PX-UV device. In the intervention units, the incidence of MRSA acquisition decreased from 3.56 per 1,000 patient-days in the nonintervent ion period to 2.21 per 1,000 patient-days in the intervention period. Moreover, the use of PX-UV disinfection decreased the risk of MRSA acquisition (incident rate ratio: 0.556; 95% confidence interval, 0.309-0.999; P =.0497). ABHR consumption did not affect the risk of MRSA acquisition. Adding PX-U V disinfection to terminal manual cleaning reduced the rate of MRSA acquisition.
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news