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Researchers from UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland in Oakland, California, presented new data demonstrating the efficacy of ultra-violet disinfection.

That study showed that use of the Clorox Healthcare Optimum-UV System as an adjunct to standard terminal cleaning in patient rooms at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland reduced levels of environmental pathogens recovered from high-touch surfaces by 94.5 percent, from 116.6 colony forming units (CFU) before cleaning, to 6.37 CFU following standard terminal cleaning and treatment with UV. 

During the study, single occupancy patient rooms were tested for pathogens upon patient discharge at three points in time: before they were cleaned, after standard terminal cleaning and after the UV system was deployed for one or two five-minute cycles as an adjunct to standard terminal cleaning.

Surface swabs were collected from the same high-touch surfaces – the call button, telemetry monitor, door handle, toilet flush handle, faucet, bed rail, phone, keyboard pad and mouse, side table, dresser and light switch – at each of the three stages and total colony count was reported from each of the surfaces swabbed.

The mean total colony count prior to cleaning the room was 116.6 colony forming units (CFU). Standard terminal cleaning lowered contamination levels to 29.06 CFU and the addition of UV as an adjunct reduced environmental pathogen counts to 6.37 CFU.

“Pediatric patients with medically complex conditions are at especially high risk of contracting infections and environmental contamination plays an important role in the transmission of healthcare-associated infections,” says Dr. Prachi Singh. “The results of our research builds on previous studies demonstrating the efficacy of this technology for pathogen reduction and confirms that it can play a role in making healthcare facilities safer for vulnerable pediatric patients.”

Automated systems that use UV-C, the highest-energy form of ultraviolet light, to kill pathogens by inactivating their DNA, provide an extra layer of protection and are used to reach areas of the healthcare environment that may otherwise be missed or insufficiently addressed due to human error.

"UV-C disinfection technology is a highly effective, efficient and safe way to reduce contamination and enhance terminal cleaning, for an even cleaner, safer healthcare environment," says Dr. Nayakwadi Singer.

Studies like this help distributors substantiate product claims when pitching UV technology to end users. For more advice on selling UV products, click here.