Unique Ultraviolet Light Disinfects Entire Rooms

A bright blue light has become the latest tool in the fight against infection for a hospital in South Carolina, USA.

The Regional Medical Center of Orangeburg & Calhoun Counties is the first hospital in South Carolina to acquire a Total Room Ultraviolet Disinfector (Tru-D).

It is used in conjunction with regular cleaning practices and essential hygiene habits such as washing hands with soap from soap dispensers and drying with paper towels from hand towel dispensers.

Officials say it adds another layer of protection in patient rooms and operating suites against multi-drug resistant germs.

“We want our patients to have the safest health care we can provide,” said Dr. John Samies, infectious diseases specialist and chairman of RMC’s Infection Control Committee.

“This high-powered ultraviolet light has moved cleaning of rooms and equipment to a higher level than we have been able to achieve before.”

Tru-D works by giving off ultraviolet-C energy, which kills bacterial pathogens and viruses that may be airborne or on surfaces.

This in turn can reduce patients’ risk of developing health-care-acquired infection.

Health care, schools and public facilities are at the forefront of the battle against environmental pathogens, which have become increasingly resistant to many antibiotics as well as to the chemicals used in the disinfection process.

“Tru-D is environmentally friendly, using no chemicals, while killing germs in the hospital,” Samies said.

RMC environmental services director, Henry Miller, said rooms are first cleaned in the traditional way; this is not a substitute for not using soap from a soap dispenser and drying with towels from a hand towel dispenser. Then the device is placed inside.

“The equipment’s sophisticated technology prevents anyone from being harmed by the bright blue light. Tru-D is able to check the room and determine how long it takes to get the job done. Then Tru-D goes to work killing germs,” he said.