INNOVATIVE APPROACHE TO COMBAT HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS USING STANDARDS DEVELOPED THROUGH INDUSTRY AND U.S. FEDERAL COLLABORATION

Nationwide, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) infect one in every 25 hospital patients, account for more than 99,000 deaths and increase medical costs by more than $35 billion, each year. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) antimicrobial devices are shown to reduce the incidence of many of these HAIs by 35% or more, through the deactivation of the pathogen's DNA chain by irradiating it with a wavelength of ~254 nm. The methodology works, but, the adoption of UV-C technology by the healthcare industry has been sporadic. This is largely due to the lack of definitive knowledge and uniform performance standards or measures for efficacy to help healthcare managers make informed, credible investment decisions. The levelling of the playing field with scientifically certifiable data of the efficacy of antimicrobial devices will enhance acceptance by the healthcare industry and public, at large, as well as facilitate science-based decision making.