A Plethora of Pathogens
While medical facilities are thought of as centers for healing, both patients and healthcare workers can be at high risk of catching infectious diseasesopen_in_new simply by breathing in the air or touching surfaces. This is because of the existence of pathogensopen_in_new which are ever-present in the air and which also tend to thrive on surfaces that are not disinfected properly. Immuno-deficient or compromised individuals are more susceptible to these opportunistic pathogens, acquired via inhalation or contact or both.
“Ultraviolet technology…in healthcare settings…can optimize environmental cleanliness, resulting in decreased pathogens that could potentially cause infection.”
UV-C Helps Prevent HAIs
The following pathogens, which are prime causes of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), are also neutralized by UV-C light:
How do These Microbes Spread Infection in Medical Facilities?
Coughing, sneezing, contaminated fluids, and contaminated food all release pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi into the air or onto surfaces. Exposed human tissue in the context of surgical procedures can be a source of bacteriaopen_in_new as well.
By nature, your hospital or clinic is a dynamic environment subject to a wide range of people besides patients and medical staff. Visitors, contractors, suppliers, administrators and people from many walks of life roam through hospital wings daily, bringing with them their individual hygiene practices. As potential germ carriers, these naturally contribute to the overall quality of the hospital environment. There are many factors that contribute to the indoor air quality (IAQ) of your overall facility or specialized department. Building materials, equipment, and furnishings in reception areas, inpatient wards, and administrative offices are all potential sources of bacteria and viruses. Your plumbing, heating, and air handling systems can also harbor and spread pathogens.
Means of Medical Facility Disinfection
At one time, antibiotics were excellent hindrances to the onslaught of microbial infections in medical facilities. However, because of their overuse, many contaminants have built up a resistance to these antibiotics, which are no longer as effectiveopen_in_new as they once were. Due to an increase of hospital infections from antibiotic-resistant pathogens since 2019, the CDCopen_in_new rightly issues a call to additional action, including implementing “effective infection prevention and control.”
While free-flowing air circulation is a good start in maintaining a clean and healthy environment, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) has shown to be effective at inactivating over 97% of pathogensopen_in_new, reducing airborne infections in healthcare patients and employees. A nine-hospital study conducted by Duke University and funded by the CDC found that ultraviolet disinfection was effective in decreasing hospital-wide infectionsopen_in_new. According to the UVGI Handbook (Kowalski, 2009), the use of air filtration combined with UV can contribute to providing the near-sterile environmentopen_in_new required by AIDS patients. UV disinfection is chemical free, safe, quick, and easy to maintain. There are several ways germicidal UV can be administered.
UV Disinfection of Ambulances
Sick patients are frequently brought to medical facilities in ambulances. FDNY Paramedic Nicole Keane reports that EMS vehicles can transport an average of 10–20 patients every day, each with a diverse range of symptoms and infections. Since patients typically leave contaminants behind, these vehicles require frequent disinfection. While most EMS staff use bleach and disinfectant wipes to clean their patient compartments after each patient, some fire departments are wisely using UV sanitizers in addition to those methods in their ambulances. Whether mobile models that can be carried in and out, or permanent fixtures mounted on the ceiling, they neutralize pathogens on counters, instruments, walls, stretchers, and floors. Read more below about our Sanidyne® Portable Area Sanitizers and our SaniLight® or SaniRay® Germicidal UV Fixtures.
Germicidal UV Methods for Medical Facilities
Upper Room UVGI
In occupied spaces, upper room UVGI can be utilized. A fixture such as Atlantic Ultraviolet’s Hygeaire®, placed on a wall in a public area or hospital room at seven feet or higher, projects long, uninterrupted ultraviolet rays across the upper room air, destroying bacteria and viruses carried by air circulation. In a Russian study cited by the National Institute of Healthopen_in_new, upper room UVGI was shown to have the lowest cost per equivalent room air change when compared with 4 other room air cleaners. It was also nearly 10 times more cost-effective than mechanical ventilation in that setting.
These models are perfect for occupied rooms such as laboratories, cafeterias, examination rooms, ERs, ORs, and waiting rooms. Field trials conducted in five hospitals concluded that upper room UV systems show an average reduction of infections by 70%.open_in_new The UVGI handbook documents that New York Central Bronx Hospital chose to install Upper Room UVGI systems in 1995 to successfully control TB and nosocomial infections.
UV Room Air Disinfection
Sanitaire® is a model that also addresses airborne microbes in crowded or poorly ventilated areas, where the risk of cross infection is high. These models draw in air through a filter (HEPA available), expose it to UV-C rays, and return it to the room with harmful microorganisms neutralized. Since lamps are not visible and UV-C rays never exit the chamber, this method is safe for use in occupied areas such as waiting rooms, patient rooms, and operating rooms. Numerous models are available: wall mounted, ceiling mounted, or mobile. Use in your occupied rooms such as ICUs, recovery rooms, laboratories, cafeterias, examination rooms, ERs, and waiting rooms. UV recirculation units are routinely used in TB isolation roomsopen_in_new.
Direct UV Air & Surface Disinfection
When hospital areas are empty, a more direct application of UV can be made. Our Sanidyne® portable UV sanitizers use 4 or 8 exposed lamps to inactivate pathogens in the air and on surfaces. By use of a remote control, the power can be turned on or programmed from a safe distance. Because these units have wheels or handles, they can be conveniently moved from one location to another when the lamps have been disengaged. This unit is ideal for locations where permanent sanitizers may not be an option, such as ORs, ICUs, laboratories, examination rooms, morgues, and ERs.
Our SaniRay® and SaniLight® direct UV models are stationary options for rooms that are unoccupied or where workers are wearing protective gear, such as morgues, labs, and clean rooms. These fixtures can be ceiling mounted and custom-wired so that they turn off when anyone enters the area. Independent hospital operating room studiesopen_in_new document the success of overhead UV systems at combating infection.
UV Air Duct Disinfection
General air quality is an issue in any public building, and medical facilities are no different. In fact, in hospitals, next-level infection prevention is an absolute necessity. Air quality starts with the HVAC system, which controls air flow and air exchange in enclosed interior spaces. The environment within air ducts is a perfect haven for microbes to grow, thrive, and be released into public spaces where they are unsuspectingly inhaled.
For this reason, Atlantic Ultraviolet has created the AeroLogic® duct disinfection system, an ultraviolet solution which works specifically within the context of a heating duct. Placement near the condenser coils and/or in the longest duct run is usually recommended for best results, depending on your particular needs. Air passing by the lamps is exposed to UV-C rays, damaging the DNA of any pathogens present and rendering them useless. An extensive Canadian studyopen_in_new, which analyzed an office ventilation system before and after a UV-C air duct system was installed, found a 99% reduction of microbial and endotoxin concentrations. Participants showed a significant reduction in symptoms such as headaches, coughs, congestion, and respiratory issues.
UV Instrument Disinfection
Surgical instruments must be disinfected in between procedures to avoid risk of infection. Our SaniUV-Cube™ is designed for this purpose, with 4 UV-C lamps, 2 quartz shelves, and a generously-sized stainless steel chamber. Simply set the desired time, engage the power, and watch as the cube safely treats tools and equipment. Use in your labs, clean rooms, operating rooms, morgues, ERs, and pathology departments.
Pass-thru version in development. Custom models available. Contact us: Sales@AtlanticUV.com or (631) 273-0500.
Many Departments, One Solution
Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation offers these effective ultraviolet disinfection solutions for air and surfaces in the hospital departments and medical facilities listed below. We also offer numerous solutions for water disinfection. Visit our ecommerce site at AtlanticUltraviolet.comopen_in_new for details.
- Hospitals
- Emergency Rooms
- Critical Care Facilities
- TB Clinics
- Methadone Clinics
- Dispensaries
- Intensive Care Units (ICU)
- Patient Rooms
- Operating Rooms
- Burn Centers
- Isolation Rooms
- Rehab Facilities
- Kidney Dialysis
- Maternity
- Nurseries
- Doctor, Dentist & Chiropractor Offices
Need help? Contact Our UV Application Specialists
We will help you determine the right products and the proper installation method, in order to provide the precise ultraviolet dosage for your needs.
Call: (631) 273-0500, Mon–Fri, 7am–6pm
Email: Sales@AtlanticUV.com
Additional Information
- Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Handbook: UVGI for Air and Surface Disinfection. Wladyslaw Kowalski. Springer, 2009open_in_new.
- Microbial Air Quality in Healthcare Facilities, Lucia Bonadonna, et al. National Library of Medicine.open_in_new
- Recommendations for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, cdc.gov, 2008.open_in_new
- Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, cdc.gov, William A. Rutala, Ph.D., 2024open_in_new
- Breathing hospital air can make you sick, K. Brownson, National Library of Medicine, 1999.open_in_new
- Assessment of focused multivector ultraviolet disinfection. American Journal of Infection Control. Volume 47, Issue 4. April 2019open_in_new.
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