Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, great emphasis has been placed on disinfection, especially in healthcare facilities where people with a weak immune system are treated. In such institutions disinfecting with UV light may be safer, faster and more efficient than using chemicals, gases or atomization technologies.
Hospital disinfection at a whole new level
In healthcare facilities the use of the various chemical- or alcohol-based disinfectants is limited: they can be effective on surfaces but are not suitable for killing airborne pathogens. UV light may be an efficient solution to this problem since it kills viruses and other microorganisms without doing any harm to human DNA or RNA.
UV-C rays, i.e. the part of ultraviolet radiation with a 280-100 nm wavelength, have been used for killing or eliminating various microorganisms for decades. UV-C radiation is applied both in laboratories and industrial facilities for disinfection and during the pandemic, it was also frequently used for the sterilization of healthcare tools – Házipatika writes.
The article also highlights that this was the time when the professionals of B+N Referencia Zrt., a company which has been operating for 20 years and is responsible for the cleaning of several healthcare institutes in Hungary, developed a special disinfection device using UV light. With the help of this equipment, the quality of hospital disinfection can be taken to a whole new level and, in parallel with this, patient safety can also be improved.
Quicker, safer, cost-effective
This innovative method does not use chemicals and is quicker and safer than traditional methods. UV light exerts its sterilizing effect through the genetic material of the microorganisms. As a result of the irradiation, the stability of the pathogen’s genome is disrupted, leading to cell death. Thus not only the surfaces but also the air of the room can be consistently disinfected. In contrast to the generally used H2O2 or O3 gases, this is a more cost-efficient procedure: in an area where gases achieve the required sterilization effect within 3 hours, UV light wipes out pathogens in 15-20 minutes. This aspect makes it possible to disinfect a whole room – which might be contaminated during the examination – between patients.
In the case of UVC disinfection, there is no need for lengthy preparations, as opposed to methods using gas where the air of the given room must be isolated. The ventilation system or the gaps around doors do not require blocking. Following UV disinfection, the room is readily available without any risks or threats to people entering.
Cannot fully substitute human labour
It is important to note that the sterilizing effect of UV light may cause short or long-term disorders in the human skin or eyes, as a result, care must be taken to ensure that nobody can enter the room while disinfection is in progress.
However, there are places where UV light cannot reach, which means that this technology cannot fully substitute for human labour and the use of traditional cleaning agents.
“Our high-quality services are based on guaranteed tidiness and cleanliness and the establishment of a seamless and cost-efficient system. The staff of our R&D (Research & Development) Department are continuously working on the development of new technologies, thus contributing to the reduction of hospital infection risks” – emphasized Zsuzsanna Nagy, Head of the Hospital Cleaning Department of the company.