UV Angel Disinfection System Shows Pathogen Reduction on Hospital Computer Keyboards
Livonia, MI (PRWEB) January 21, 2016 -- Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) implementation has introduced many new devices and high-touch surfaces to the patient bedside. Contaminated computer keyboards and healthcare equipment are a potential source for transmission of healthcare–associated pathogens and respiratory viruses in healthcare facilities. A known concern, keyboards and many other high-touch devices are frequently contaminated with bacterial pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. diff) spores.
Dr. Donskey and his team observed that UV Angel reduces pathogens like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli, and C. diff spores within 1 cycle. Donskey’s team also reports that the UV Angel system can potentially complete >100 cycles each day with no operator required. Daily disinfection of high-touch surfaces have been proven to be useful in the reduction of hand contamination by healthcare personnel providing care for their patients.
Some chemical disinfectants such as chlorhexidine lack sporicidal activity while others like sodium hypochlorite (bleach) damage costly medical equipment. UV Angel believes there is a need for new approaches that eliminate pathogens and also reduces the disinfection burden placed on caregivers. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) is effective in killing a wide range of viral and bacterial pathogens, including C. diff spores. High-intensity UV-C devices are commonly used for patient room disinfection and cannot be used when people are present. The UV Angel disinfection system offers a different solution by incorporating small (17.8 cm tall × 30.5 cm wide) low-intensity UV-C lamps to multiple high-touch equipment within the patient room. All UV Angel devices require no technician to operate due to the use of software and PIR sensors that activate and deactivate equipment disinfection around the clock. Typical technology and equipment UV Angel mounts onto are:
• Keyboards/Mice/Bar code Scanners
• Mobile Computer Workstations
• Touchscreens
• Vital Sign Monitors
• Dialysis Machines
• Ventilators
• IV and Infusion Pumps
While Donskey and his team report that the UV Angel device significantly reduces total bacterial counts they also evaluated its safety. Their findings suggest that because the device is intended to be used while personnel are in the same room, the potential for exposure of personnel to UV-C was a concern. However using UV-C indicator strips and a radiometric sensor, they did not find evidence that UV-C penetrated outside the safe area. In addition to the low-intensity UV-C the UV Angel system consistently aborted its cycles when movement into the area of the keyboard was detected.
This study was funded by a merit review grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to Dr. Donskey.
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About UV Partners Inc.
UV Partners inventive technologies and strategic services empower caregivers to deliver outstanding care and enables hospitals to perform at their best. With paradigm-shifting technology that actively monitors and disinfects targeted surfaces after each human interaction, the company's newest product line, UV Angel, is a pesticide device that is reinventing disinfection. By combining intelligent automation and powerful data, UV Angel is the new standard in preventive disinfection. For more information, visit http://www.uvangel.com.
Michael Armstrong, UV Angel, http://www.uvangel.com, +1 (888) 277-2596 Ext: 704, [email protected]
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