Don’t forget about the air when it comes to disinfection, experts say

COVID-19 continues to challenge healthcare facilities – and their infection prevention protocols – around the globe. Now, more forward-thinking facilities are exploring how to fight new and emerging threats with an old tool: UV light.

UV light is commonly used for disinfection and capable of breaking bonds in an organism’s genome and structure.

“A lot of times, you can see visible soil on the surface and you can see that it needs to be cleaned,” says Megan Henken, vice president of EVS product management at Medline. “Different pathogens though transmit in different ways. Let’s say you apply a disinfectant to a surface. When you do this, you’re not going to kill pathogens that are in the air. SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a perfect example of a virus where studies now show that it’s in the air.”

Henken and team are seeing two UV disinfection solutions gaining more and more interest from facilities across the continuum of care.  One addresses the air, and the other targets surfaces.

Scientific Air combines HEPA filtration and UV-C light disinfection. The device can be used in multiple care settings.  By capturing pathogens long enough to destroy them, studies indicate the device can reduce airborne HAIs, or healthcare-associated infections, with up to a 99.9995% UVC pathogen killing rate.

Solaris Lytbot is another option to improve surface disinfection. With this device, nobody can be in room while in use.

Henken adds, “Pathogens continue to evolve and EVS teams must constantly be learning and challenging themselves to ensure they are prepared for whatever may come through their doors.”

See how Medline supports EVS teams across the continuum.