As COVID becomes a pressing problem, we see more and more hospitals looking to invest in sanitizing devices that can reduce the spread of diseases and viruses. The problem with Italy, one of the countries worst hit with the virus, was that hospitals became a breeding ground for the spread of the virus. This was extremely counterintuitive because a visit to the hospital put people at greater risk of acquiring the deadly coronavirus.
A recent Canadian study suggested the use of ultraviolet sanitizing devices in hospitals to prevent the spread of bacteria. Over the globe, hospitals are using ultraviolet light systems for disinfecting patients and operating rooms. The list below highlights devices that are increasingly being used in hospitals.
Portable UV-C Systems
A Portable UV-C system is a twin unit that can be placed in the patient room with one unit on either side of the bed to cover off the shadow effect. This needs to be done before the patient enters the room, and the corridor door is closed.
The lights can be activated using your smartphone remotely via WIFI. The infrared mechanisms on the units turn off the UV-C lights at the slightest movement in the room. Doctors measure the disinfection results in terms of the distance from the light to bed and the light's intensity.
UV-C Light Devices
Most ultraviolet light devices are designed to be wheeled into a room, used, and then wheeled out. Companies are experimenting with stationary UV devices in operating rooms, mounted on a wall. The sizes, features, and designs for these devices vary.
Most of them are the size of a small fridge and run for short periods. Hospitals are now investing in devices that run until UV sensors are placed in the room to measure a particular UV dose and promptly turn off.
Some devices have mirrors that focus the UV light as the beam rotates around the room, and some are controlled digitally by touch-screens. The devices that have motion sensors shut off automatically if a person enters the room. However, hospitals run into the issue of choosing the most effective UV light system for their needs.
Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning System (HAVC)
Hospitals in the US have installed UV cleaning in their heating ventilation and Air Conditioning (HAVC) system to disinfect the air of both bacteria and viruses. These units can either be placed in the ducts or inside the central HVAC unit. One effective placement for these units is the bathroom, above the door to clean on a cycle basis.
The UV lights built inside the unit help reduce the microorganisms and ensure cleaning between the operating room cases.
How to Determine The Performance of A UV Device?
A few ways to determine the performance of a UV device are:
- Check for the power connections. More power equals a more efficient reduction of microorganisms at further distances from the UVC source.
- Ensure that the device delivers a calculated dose of UVC energy to the treatment area every time.
- How simple or easy to use the device is.
- How quickly the device kills various pathogens under controlled conditions.
- Testing whether the devices are useful with randomized swab tests of the hospitals before and after the UV device is used.