INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO COMBAT HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS USING STANDARDS DEVELOPED THROUGH INDUSTRY AND U.S. FEDERAL COLLABORATION

Published

June 14, 2019

Author(s)

Carl C. Miller, Thomas C. Larason, Dianne L. Poster, Yaw S. Obeng, Mike Postek, Richard Martinello

Abstract

Nationwide, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) infect one in every 25 hospital patients, account for more than 99,000 deaths and increase medical costs by more than $35 billion, each year. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) antimicrobial devices are shown to reduce the incidence of many of these HAIs by 35% or more, through the deactivation of the pathogen’s DNA chain by irradiating it with a wavelength of ~254 nm. The methodology works, but, the adoption of UV-C technology by the healthcare industry has been sporadic. This is largely due to the lack of definitive knowledge and uniform performance standards or measures for efficacy to help healthcare managers make informed, credible investment decisions. The levelling of the playing field with scientifically certifiable data of the efficacy of antimicrobial devices will enhance acceptance by the healthcare industry and public, at large, as well as facilitate science-based decision making.

Proceedings Title

Proceeding of the 29th Quadrennial Session of the CIE

Conference Dates

June 17-20, 2019

Conference Location

Washington DC, DC

Conference Title

The 29th Quadrennial Session of the CIE

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.25039/x46.2019.OP23

Local Download

Keywords

Antimicrobial, Healthcare-Associated Infections, Ultraviolet-C

Citation

Miller, C. , Larason, T. , Poster, D. , Obeng, Y. , Postek, M. and Martinello, R. (2019), INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO COMBAT HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS USING STANDARDS DEVELOPED THROUGH INDUSTRY AND U.S. FEDERAL COLLABORATION, Proceeding of the 29th Quadrennial Session of the CIE, Washington DC, DC, [online], https://doi.org/10.25039/x46.2019.OP23 (Accessed April 23, 2024)