While multi-drug resistant organisms continue to be a problem among the nation's healthcare facilities, Iredell Health System has implemented a new layer of protection for patients, staff, and guests at Iredell Memorial Hospital with the addition of ultraviolet (UV) technology.

Iredell Memorial Hospital uses the devices to disinfect operating rooms and contact isolation patient rooms. Other patient rooms and public areas are treated on a rotating basis. The devices are used after the environmental services team thoroughly cleans and disinfects each room with a chemical surface disinfectant product. The UV devices are then used to supplement these efforts. In a typical patient room, the device is placed on both sides of the patient bed and turned on for five minutes in each position. It's also placed in the patient bathroom for another five-minute cycle. A similar process is followed for the Critical Care Unit.

"With pathogens such as C. Diff. able to survive on surfaces for months at a time, we felt it was important to adopt a comprehensive approach – combining manual surface disinfection with UV technology," said Gill. "We want the adoption of the UV devices to give peace of mind to our patients, to reassure them their safety is what is most important to our staff."

For more information on Iredell's use of the Clorox Healthcare® Optimum-UV Enlight® system, contact LaToya Boyce at 704.878.7738 or latoya.boyce@iredellhealth.org.