Inov8 helps Hereford Hospital with infection prevention

Published: 30-Nov--0001

Inov8 Science has installed AD units in all wards except children’s and women’s health.

Measuring less than 41x20cm, the AD is a small device that is generally fixed to a wall in locations with the greatest potential for pathogen proliferation. It emits a constant low-level stream of hydroxyl radicals that attack airborne bacteria and viruses.

AD units were initially placed throughout the older Nightingale style wards at Hereford Hospital, where there had been particular problems with infection and ward closures.

Since the introduction of MRSA screening of all hospital in-patients, reviewing the antibiotic prescribing policy, continued vigilance about hand hygiene, extra auditing of infection prevention practices on all wards Hereford Hospital has had no MRSA bloodstream infections since April 2009 and C. Difficile numbers have more than halved.

Dr Alison Johnson, consultant microbiologist at Hereford, says it is difficult to attribute success with a particular organism to one part of the infection prevention strategy, but acknowledged that the Inov8 AD units are making a contribution, particularly in preventing norovirus outbreaks and ward closures. “The AD units were installed in some of the older Nightingale style wards in June 2008 and then in the main hospital wards in January 2009,’ she said. ‘In this period, there was one norovirus outbreak in the older wards (which lasted only three days) and 11 norovirus outbreaks in the main building, which resulted in 112 days of ward closures, affecting 137 patients and 61 staff. However, since the units were installed in the main hospital building there have been no further outbreaks of norovirus or ward closures."

Noroviruses affect between 600,000 and one million people in the UK every year and spreads very easily from person to person and can survive for several days in a contaminated area.

Contact T +44 1908 315500 www.inov8science.com

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