WCPO Cincinnati

'Germinator' fights hospital infections at Cincinnati hospital

Matched pair of light machines, each around five feet tall, about 15 inches around, and 54 pounds mounted on industrial casters, clean the room with UV light

By Healthcare Facilities Today


The eerie glow coming from a window at West Chester Hospital in Cincinnati is infection control at work, according to an article on the WCPO Cincinnati website.

A matched pair of light machines, each around five feet tall, about 15 inches around, and 54 pounds mounted on industrial casters. clean the room.

Light from a certain portion of the UV spectrum disrupts DNA in bacteria and viruses so they can’t reproduce. The UV machines have sensors that measure and register how much UV light to discharge in a cleaning session. The machines also remember, through bar coding, when a room was last cleaned and for how long, and who ran the lights, the article said.

While the units operate, a monitor hangs from the outside door handle; if it moves, the units automatically shut down. The room can be used right after treatment.

Traditional bleach-based cleanings only go so far to sanitize against bacteria and viruses that cause these infections, since the germs can survive for hours--even days--on hard surfaces counters, phones or handrails, the article said

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about one of every 20 hospitalized patients picks up an infection at a healthcare facility each day. About 99,000 patients die every year from a healthcare-associated infection.

Read the article.

 

 



February 12, 2014


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Cyberattack Results in Patient Reroutes at Anne Arundel Medical Center

A recent cyberattack on Luminis Health Care led to care disruptions and treatment cancelations at Maryland hospital.


Tangram Furnishes Be Well OC Irvine Behavioral Health Campus

Case study: Through a public-private partnership, Be Well OC’s 22-acre Irvine campus expands Orange County’s continuum of behavioral healthcare.


Suntree Internal Medicine Reports Data Breach

Suntree Internal Medicine has no evidence of misuse, or attempted misuse, of any potentially affected information.


Why Healthcare Facilities Management Is Critical to Patient Safety 

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities rely on much more than doctors and nurses to keep patients safe.


Sanford Health and North Memorial Health Finalize Partnership

An integration process is underway to create a unified organization.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.