UVGI technology reduces HAI, study finds
Study at NICU in Buffalo, NY hospital cut surface contamination by 99.99%
Vigilair Systems’ air cleaning technology demonstrated a dramatic reduction in hospital-acquired infection (HAI) when it was applied in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in a Buffalo, NY, US hospital.
Vigilair, a US-based provider of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) technology, said the study was conducted by doctors at the NICU of the Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, located in Buffalo, NY.
The results demonstrated a reduction of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) by 50% in the most high-risk population. NICU surface contamination reduction was greater than 99.99%, tracheal microbial colonisation was reduced by 45% and antibiotic usage dropped by 62%. Estimated annual clinical savings were in excess of $500,000.
Vigilair Systems supplied the Enhanced Ultra Violet Germicidal Irradiation (e-UVGI) air purification equipment, which is also known as a Pathogen Control System (PCS), for the NICU.
“This is, to our knowledge, the first published study of its kind,” said Peter Bjorkman, president at Vigilair Systems.
“The results show clearly how important the HVAC system is as a contamination source in sensitive environments like hospitals. The findings in this study correspond well with other studies Vigilair has been involved in at other hospitals,” he added.
Vigilair’s PCS equipment is installed within existing hospital Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) units. It integrates standard UVGI emitters with MERV15 air filters in such a manner as to predictably destroy harmful viruses, bacteria and fungi at a pre-determined efficiency within a given HVAC's airstream.
The company provides UVGI technology for HVAC surface and air disinfection, as well as sanitisation systems for packaging material to the food and beverage industry.
The published article 'Effect of enhanced ultraviolet germicidal irradiation in the heating ventilation and air conditioning system on ventilator associated pneumonia in a neonatal intensive care unit' appears in the April 2011 on-line edition of the Journal of Perinatology.
