Oklahoma City – May 10, 2013 — St. Anthony Hospital’s newest approach to disinfecting a room looks a little like a science fiction character. The new Xenex room disinfection system uses ultraviolet (UV-C) light that is 25,000 times more powerful than the sun to quickly ‘zap’ nasty organisms that cause infections like the flu, norovirus, MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff). In minutes, the device can disinfect a patient room, patient bathroom or operating room (OR) by pulsing the light, which washes over the surfaces where germs reside.
St. Anthony is the only hospital in Oklahoma to have the Xenex room disinfection device. More than 100 hospitals nationwide are using the system with the purpose of reducing rates of infection and saving costs. And it’s safe. Because the light is extremely intense, the machine operates on its own once it’s set up in a room. For enhanced safety, a sign placed outside the door warns people not to enter, and a motion sensor automatically shuts off the machine if someone should enter.
“This technology is used in high risk areas in conjunction with the extensive cleaning services already provided by our environmental services team,” said John Lupin, director, environmental services, St. Anthony Hospital. “The most critical step to ensure infection control begins with a clean environment. The system was implemented on May 1, 2013, and since that time we have used Xenex to disinfect 100 of our patient rooms.”
After cleaning, housekeepers position the Xenex device on both sides of the bed and in the restroom to disinfect 99.99 percent of dangerous contaminants. Each treatment takes about five minutes, or 15 minutes per room.
“We already have a strong infection prevention program. The Xenex technology allows us to be even more proactive in protecting the health of our patients and staff,” said Dr. James Kirk, infectious disease specialist.
About Xenex Healthcare Services
Xenex’s patented pulse xenon UV disinfection systems are utilized for the advanced cleaning of the patient environment in healthcare facilities. Only Xenex uses pulsed xenon and contains no mercury. Xenex’s mission is to significantly reduce the presence of bacteria that cause Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) that impact the health and lives of millions of patients and their families and become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information please visit http://www.xenex.com.

New Orleans – May 10, 2013 — Louisiana Continuing Care Hospital (LCCH) is the first hospital in Louisiana to implement Xenex Healthcare Services’ ultraviolet (UV) light room disinfection system. The hospital’s latest weapon to fight healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is a robot resembling R2D2 from Star Wars which uses pulsed xenon to quickly deliver ultraviolet light throughout a room – destroying the DNA and RNA of deadly microorganisms and rendering them harmless.

Studies show that the Xenex room disinfection system is consistently 20 times more effective than standard chemical cleaning practices and effective against a variety of the most dangerous superbugs, including Clostridium difficile endospores (C. diff), MRSA, VRE, CRE and Acinetobacter. In minutes, the device can disinfect a patient room, patient bathroom or operating room by pulsing ultraviolet light, which washes over the surfaces where germs reside

LCCH, which occupies the 7th floor of West Jefferson Medical Center, has been providing services to medically complex patients in greater New Orleans since 1995. Its mission is to specialize in treating critical patients who otherwise would require care in a general hospital’s intensive care unit (“ICU”). Every patient at LCCH has an individualized treatment plan developed and implemented by a physician directed team of skilled professionals. The Xenex room disinfection system is an added layer of protection being used in addition to the hospital’s current stringent cleaning methods.

Xenex devices are friendlier to the environment than cleaning chemicals or UV devices using toxic mercury. Xenex is the only company to offer a xenon-based room disinfection product that is patented, tested, and proven to deliver a germicidal dose of UV-C light capable of killing C. diff in five minutes or less.

“Hospitals with longer stays and a high percentage of immune compromised patients are at higher risk than general hospitals which is why we feel we have a heightened duty to do everything we can to combat infection. It is our goal to be the cleanest and friendliest hospital in the region,” said Stephen Sullivan, Chairman of the Board at LCCH. “In addition to the Xenex system, we are installing a new computerized hand hygiene system to better assure that infections are not carried on the hands of clinicians as they go from patient to patient. The 21st century is an age of great peril but also medical miracles and wonders that allow us to better care for our patients than ever before. Moreover, our plan is to continue to implement new infection protection technology that makes our patients safe against the serious risks CDC has identified.”

“LCCH is raising the bar for patient safety in Louisiana,” said Dr. Mark Stibich, Chief Scientific Officer for Xenex. “LCCH has embraced our room disinfection technology as part of their infection control solution to provide their patients with the safest experience possible.”

About Louisiana Continuing Care Hospital
Established in 1995, LCCH is certified by Medicare to operate up to 56 beds. Currently, the hospital is licensed for 33 high acuity beds serving medically complex patients who typically require longer stays than can be offered at general hospitals. All patients have a physician led team of clinicians who develop an individualized treatment plan. The patient’s team routinely meets to monitor progress and agree on changes needed with the goal of returning the patient to his or her maximum capacity for independent living or other appropriate level of care.

About Xenex Healthcare Services
Xenex’s patented pulse xenon UV disinfection systems are utilized for the advanced cleaning of the patient environment in healthcare facilities. Only Xenex uses pulsed xenon and contains no mercury. Xenex’s mission is to significantly reduce the presence of bacteria that cause Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) that impact the health and lives of millions of patients and their families and become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information please visit http://www.xenex.com.

San Antonio, TX – March 6, 2013 — As major news outlets including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and CBS News have recently reported, U.S. hospitals are engaged in a ferocious battle against the deadly pathogens and multi drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) which cause healthcare associated infections (HAIs).

Hospital cleanliness plays a role in the spread of HAIs, which are caused by microorganisms such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff), MRSA, Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and Acinetobacter baumannii. Hospital cleaning teams are not able to disinfect all the surfaces in patient rooms in the allotted time, with research showing that more than half of the surfaces remain untouched. Some superbugs such as C. diff are showing resistance to disinfectants, making them even more difficult to eliminate. Others, like CRE, have developed a resistance to antibiotics, making them nearly impossible to treat.

HAIs are responsible for approximately 100,000 deaths in the U.S. each year – and many patients aren’t aware that they may contract an infection as a result of their hospital stay. Innovative hospitals throughout the U.S. including MD Anderson Cancer Center, WellStar Health System, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center and Cooley Dickinson Hospital are utilizing a portable room disinfection system from Xenex Healthcare Services to make their patients safer.

The Xenex “robot” uses pulse xenon to deliver ultraviolet (UV) light throughout patient rooms, operating rooms (ORs), equipment rooms, emergency rooms, intensive care units (ICUs) and public areas to destroy viruses, bacteria and bacterial spores in just 5-10 minutes per room. Uniquely designed for ease of use and portability, a hospital’s environmental services staff can operate the Xenex device without disrupting hospital operations or requiring the use of expensive chemicals. A Xenex device can disinfect over 30 rooms per day, so hospitals use them continuously to reduce contamination levels throughout their facilities.

“The most important step in infection control begins with a clean environment and that’s what Xenex’s room disinfection system accomplishes. In just 5-10 minutes per room, our device can eliminate the deadly microorganisms and superbugs that cause infections. We have proven repeatedly that the science of our pulsed xenon light makes it incredibly effective against the most challenging bacteria, viruses and even C. diff spores,” said Dr. Mark Stibich, Chief Scientific Officer of Xenex. “Every week we hear reports from our customers that they are experiencing fewer patient infections as a result of using our device, which is extremely gratifying. We are in a war against deadly superbugs – and Xenex is a proven weapon in this battle.”

Xenex systems have proven to be effective against a variety of the most dangerous superbugs and studies show the Xenex room disinfection system is consistently 20 times more effective than standard chemical cleaning practices. A recent study performed at MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated that the Xenex system was more effective than bleach in reducing C. diff in patient rooms.

“The Xenex robots have enabled Cooley Dickinson Hospital to not only lower our infection rates, they have been responsible for saving lives,” said Dr. Joanne Levin, medical director of the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Infection Prevention Program. “In 2012, we were able to reduce C. diff infections by 53 percent, which is huge.”

And while Xenex is focused on eliminating deadly pathogens which are resistant to traditional cleaning chemicals and antibiotics, some customers are crediting their Xenex system for a reduction in the spread of flu and norovirus in their facilities. A customer recently used its Xenex system to halt a norovirus outbreak, which was brought into the hospital by a visitor. According to the hospital, several patients and staff members on the floor visited by the infected person quickly developed symptoms. The hospital used the Xenex system to disinfect the rooms, computers and medical equipment where the outbreak occurred.

“With our proven ability to stop norovirus in its tracks, we are excited by the possibility to stop the spread of these viruses that adversely affect hospitals, cruise ships and hotels. By halting the spread of the virus we are helping facilities prevent these episodes, which is a big step forward in infection control,” said Morris Miller, CEO of Xenex.

Xenex devices are made in the U.S. and friendlier to the environment than cleaning chemicals or UV devices using toxic mercury. Xenex is the only company to offer a xenon-based room disinfection product that is patented, tested, and proven to deliver a germicidal dose of UV-C light capable of killing C. diff in five minutes or less.

About Xenex Healthcare Services
Xenex’s patented pulsed xenon UV disinfection systems are utilized for the advanced cleaning of the patient environment in healthcare facilities. The Xenex system is the fastest, safest, most cost-effective, and most portable and user-friendly system available today among room disinfection technologies. Xenex’s mission is to significantly reduce the number of HAIs that impact the health and lives of millions of patients and their families and become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information please visit http://www.xenex.com.

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Cambridge, MA- As the public health crisis of the 2013 flu season demonstrates, the most critical step to ensure infection control begins with a clean environment. Spaulding Hospital Cambridge recently became the first hospital in the Boston area to implement Xenex Healthcare Services’ innovative germ-zapping technology to further increase patient safety. The new portable room disinfection device uses pulse xenon to deliver ultraviolet (UV) light throughout patient rooms to quickly destroy viruses, bacteria and bacterial spores. The Xenex device has been shown to kill the influenza virus in less than two minutes.

“The clinicians and staff at Spaulding Hospital Cambridge have always ensured we have infection rates well below national rates as we care for a medically complex patient population who are often most at risk,” said Joanne Fucile, Vice President of Operations and Director of Nursing, Spaulding Hospital Cambridge. “Implementing this new technology enables us to go even further above and beyond to ensure the safety of our patients and their families.”

Spaulding Hospital Cambridge also serves the distinction of being the first post acute care hospital in the U.S. to implement the Xenex system. As a long term acute care hospital, Spaulding’s patients run the spectrum of complexity from minimally conscious and vegetative states to patients dependent on ventilators. Often their hospital stay is anywhere from a month to several months to stabilize and recover after a major injury or illness. Limiting exposure to the flu or other hospital acquired infections (HAI) for these populations is a critical issue that caregivers have been grappling with for years.

“At Xenex we take pride in partnering with our customers to create a safer patient environment. Spaulding is a great example of this because they’ve been able to tailor the use of our technology to meet their specific needs, such as the disinfection of equipment rooms and fitness areas in addition to their patient rooms,” said Dr. Mark Stibich, Chief Scientific Officer of Xenex. “We applaud Spaulding for being the first facility in Boston to implement the Xenex room disinfection system, and especially for their innovation and focus on patient safety.”

The implementation began as a pilot in early December but since gone hospital wide allowing for an increased ability by the Spaulding Hospital Cambridge staff to cover more areas. “Ben”, as the staff have affectionately named the robot, not only disinfects patient rooms but has also been utilized to disinfect therapy gyms as well as common areas to add another layer of patient safety.

Studies show that the Xenex system is consistently 20 times more effective than standard chemical cleaning practices and effective against a variety of the most dangerous superbugs, including Clostridium difficile endospores (C. diff), MRSA, VRE, and Acinetobacter. As the first post acute care hospital in the country to use the device, Spaulding Hospital Cambridge and Xenex will be collaborating on a research study to examine approaches and best practices that other post acute providers can utilize.

About Spaulding Hospital Cambridge

Spaulding Hospital Cambridge is a Medicare-certified Long Term Care Hospital (LTCH) with 180 beds. A member of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, it is a regional leader in health and elder care and accredited by the Joint Commission.  Its programs include complex medical, cardiac care with telemetry, ventilator weaning, pulmonary care, oncology and neurological rehabilitation, and post-organ transplant care.  Specialty services available include peritoneal and hemodialysis, pain management, wound care and chemotherapy. For more information visit www.spauldingrehab.org.

About Xenex Healthcare Services

Xenex’s patented pulsed xenon UV disinfection systems are utilized for the advanced cleaning of the patient environment in healthcare facilities. The Xenex system is the fastest, safest, most cost-effective, and most portable and user-friendly system available today among room disinfection technologies. Only Xenex uses pulsed xenon and contains no mercury. Xenex’s mission is to significantly reduce the number of HAIs that impact the health and lives of millions of patients and their families and become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information please visit http://www.xenex.com.

October 30, 2012 — Temple, TX – In an effort to achieve “zero” hospital acquired infections, the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS) will start using a new technology system — UV disinfection. To showcase this new technology system, a presentation highlighting its launch is set for Wednesday, October 31 at 10:30 a.m at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center in the Amphitheater. After the UV system launch presentation, media will have the opportunity to see a demonstration of the technology in action. The event is free and open to the public.

The event will showcase how a research-based device using ultraviolet light can provide superior disinfection, especially when used on surfaces that are currently cleaned manually alone. Dr. Chetan Jinadatha, CTVHCS Chief of Infectious Disease will discuss the initiative and how it will be deployed at the facility.

Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States and are a threat to patient safety. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, these infections cost the U.S. healthcare system $9 billion each year and lead to the loss of tens of thousands of lives.

UV disinfection technology has been shown to be effective, safe and promises reduction of hospital acquired infections. This technology has the potential to improve patient health care outcomes. CTVHCS will be one of the first in the VA system nationally to deploy the ultra-violet device throughout their acute care facilities.

The event will also feature remarks from CTVHCS Chief of Staff, Dr. William Harper and Ms. Karen Spada, MSN, MPH, MHA, FNP, Associate Director for Patient and Nursing Services. Immediately following the launch presentation event, a brief ribbon cutting and demonstration of the device will take place on the 4th floor of the hospital (4K) in a room designated for cleaning.

The event is sponsored by CTVHS and the Central Texas Veterans Research Foundation, a nonprofit entity that supports and facilitates Veteran research.

Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center is located at 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive in Temple. For more about CTVHCS facilities, please visit the website at: http://www.centraltexas.va.gov/

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Media wishing to attend, should contact Deborah Meyer, Public Affairs Specialist, at 254-743-2376 prior to the event.

MARIETTA, Ga. (November 28, 2012) – WellStar Health System was the first to implement and is the only health system in metro-Atlanta using Xenex Healthcare Services’  room disinfection system in its patient and operating rooms.  A “green”, mercury-free technology, the Xenex system is the fastest, safest and most effective method for the advanced cleaning of hospital rooms, scientifically proven to destroy all major classes of microorganisms that cause hospital acquired infections (HAIs), such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff).

HAIs (also referred to as healthcare association infections), caused by deadly pathogens such as MRSA, C. diff, pneumonia and Acinetobacter, are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Xenex’s room disinfection system uses pulsed xenon technology to deliver high-intensity, broad spectrum ultraviolet light to quickly kill microorganisms on surfaces and in the air without contact or chemicals.  The UV light penetrates the cell walls of microorganisms, essentially fusing their DNA, leading to instant damage, the inability to reproduce or mutate, and killing the organism. Uniquely designed for ease of use and portability, WellStar’s environmental services staff operates the Xenex device without disrupting hospital operations. The system is capable of disinfecting a room in as little as five minutes and can disinfect over 30 rooms per day, so hospitals use the device continuously to reduce contamination levels throughout their facilities.

“Hospitals are constantly exposed to viruses and bacteria,” said Marcia Delk, M.D., senior vice president, safety, quality and credentialing & chief quality officer for WellStar.  “We want to insure patient rooms are free from microorganisms that cause infections, and this new technology will provide the safest rooms for our patients and save lives.”

Numerous hospitals that have implemented the Xenex room disinfection system have documented reductions in the presence of drug-resistant microorganisms and observed a return on investment through operational cost savings.   In hospital trials, Xenex has consistently shown to be more than 20 times more effective than standard cleaning practices and a recent study performed at MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated that the Xenex system was more effective than bleach in reducing C. diff. in patient rooms.

“Innovative health care systems like WellStar are investing in Xenex’s disinfection technology to make their patients safer,” said Mark Stibich, Chief Scientific Officer of Xenex. “We have proven repeatedly that the science of our pulsed xenon light makes it incredibly effective against the most challenging bacteria, viruses and even C. diff spores. WellStar is taking patient protection to the next level while leading the healthcare industry toward a new and better standard of cleanliness and care.”

“Our recent partnership with Xenex is another example of how our innovation program is providing real world benefits,” said Delk.  “We believe this new technology holds great promise for healthcare organizations as they address the problem of hospital acquired infections.”

The vision of WellStar Health System is to deliver world-class healthcare.  WellStar, a not-for-profit health system, includes Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals; WellStar Medical Group; WellStar Acworth Health Park, Urgent Care Centers; Health Place; Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; Paulding Nursing Center; and WellStar Foundation. For more information, call 770-956-STAR or visit wellstar.org.

ABOUT XENEX HEALTHCARE SERVICES

Xenex’s patented pulsed xenon UV disinfection systems are utilized for the advanced cleaning of the patient environment in healthcare facilities. The Xenex system is the fastest, safest, most cost-effective, and most portable and user-friendly system available today among room disinfection technologies. Only Xenex uses pulsed xenon and contains no mercury. Xenex’s mission is to significantly reduce the number of HAIs that impact the health and lives of millions of patients and their families and become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information please visit http://www.xenex.com.

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San Antonio – November 12, 2012 – Xenex Healthcare Services, the world leader in UV room disinfection systems, today announced it has been awarded Frost & Sullivan’s 2012 U.S. New Product Innovation Award in Hospital and Safety Prevention Technologies.  A “green,” mercury-free technology, Xenex offers the fastest, safest, and most cost-effective method for the automated disinfection of healthcare facilities.

“Xenex is being recognized with the Frost & Sullivan 2012 New Product Innovation Award in Hospital Safety and Prevention Technologies because more than any other available technology, the Xenex system is able to provide superior effectiveness in disinfection along with functionality that is easy to learn and operate,” said Venkat Rajan, Industry Manger, Frost & Sullivan. “Hospitals that have implemented use of the Xenex system have documented immediate reduction in the presence of drug-resistant microorganisms. Beyond the clinical benefit, facilities have noticed an immediate return on investment through various patient care and operational cost savings. The innovative elements of Xenex’s cutting-edge room disinfection system make it stand out from other technologies and systems and we are proud to present them with this well-deserved award.”

Healthcare associated infections (also referred to as HAIs) are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, costing more than $30 billion each year. Evidence continues to mount that the hospital environment plays a critical role in the spread of HAIs, which are caused by deadly pathogens such as C. diff, MRSA, VRE and Acinetobacter. Hospital cleaning teams are not able to disinfect all the surfaces in patient rooms, with research showing that more than half of the surfaces remain untouched. Additionally, deadly “superbugs” are showing resistance to cleaning chemicals, making the pathogens even more difficult to remove and eliminate. 

Xenex’s portable room disinfection system uses pulsed xenon ultraviolet light to destroy viruses, bacteria and bacterial spores in the patient environment without contact or chemicals. Uniquely designed for ease of use and portability, a hospital’s environmental services staff can operate the Xenex device without disrupting hospital operations or requiring the use of expensive chemicals. The Xenex system will disinfect over thirty (30) rooms per day, so hospitals use the system continuously to reduce contamination levels throughout their facilities.

“We have proven repeatedly that the science of our pulsed xenon light makes it incredibly effective against the most challenging bacteria, viruses and even C. diff spores,” said Mark Stibich, Chief Scientific Officer of Xenex. “Xenex customer Cooley Dickinson Hospital just presented a study which showed they had a 53 percent reduction in hospital acquired C. diff when the Xenex device was used to disinfect patient rooms at discharge, operating rooms, emergency rooms, and other areas as available. In another recent study, Cone Health reported that their MRSA rates dropped 56 percent in 2011 after they implemented an infection prevention program including Xenex’s device.”

“Xenex’s mission is to save lives and reduce suffering by preventing healthcare associated infections. Hospitals using our room disinfection devices are experiencing fewer infections and are able to provide a safer environment for their patients, staff and visitors,” said Morris Miller, CEO  of Xenex. “We applaud Frost & Sullivan for acknowledging that HAIs are a national health crisis and presenting their findings, after conducting exhaustive research, that our device is superior to other technologies for helping hospitals combat this problem.”  

Xenex devices are made in the U.S. and friendlier to the environment than current housecleaning chemicals or other UV devices using toxic mercury. Xenex is the only company to offer a xenon-based room disinfection product that is patented, tested, and proven to deliver a germicidal dose of UV-C light capable of killing C. diff in five minutes or less. Xenex systems, currently in use by hospitals throughout the U.S., have proven to be effective against a variety of the most dangerous superbugs, including Clostridium difficile endospores (C. diff), MRSA, VRE, and Acinetobacter. Studies show the Xenex room disinfection system is consistently 20 times more effective than standard chemical cleaning practices and a recent study performed at MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated that the Xenex system was more effective than bleach in reducing C. diff. in patient rooms.

About Xenex Healthcare Services
Xenex’s patented pulsed xenon UV disinfection systems are utilized for the advanced cleaning of the patient environment in healthcare facilities. The Xenex system is the fastest, safest, most cost-effective, and most portable and user-friendly system available today among room disinfection technologies. Only Xenex uses pulsed xenon and contains no mercury. The Xenex mission is to significantly reduce the number of HAIs that impact the health and lives of millions of patients and their families and become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information please visit http://www.xenex.com.
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San Antonio – November 2, 2012 – Xenex Healthcare Services, the world leader in UV room disinfection systems, today announced it is making its room disinfection devices available to hospitals affected by Hurricane Sandy. The company is offering a number of its devices to assist those facilities that have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy and that could benefit from Xenex’s technology to bring their hospitals back online and to protect their already compromised patients.   A “green,” mercury-free technology, Xenex offers the fastest, safest, and most cost-effective method for the automated disinfection of healthcare facilities.

“Our mission is to save lives and reduce suffering by preventing healthcare associated infections. We’d like to show our support to the hospitals and patients affected by Hurricane Sandy by helping get the hospitals clean and safe for patients again,” said Morris Miller, CEO of Xenex. “To show our support, we are loaning our room disinfection devices and our trained staff, who are ready to work with hospitals affected by the disaster, so we can ensure those hospital rooms get back up and running as quickly as possible.”

Xenex’s portable room disinfection system uses pulsed xenon ultraviolet light to destroy viruses, bacteria and bacterial spores in the patient environment without contact or chemicals. Uniquely designed for ease of use and portability, a hospital’s environmental services staff can operate the Xenex device without disrupting hospital operations or requiring the use of expensive chemicals. The Xenex system will disinfect over thirty (30) rooms per day, so hospitals use the system continuously to reduce contamination levels throughout their facilities.

“The devastating flooding in the Northeast presents an infection control nightmare,” said Mark Stibich, Chief Scientific Officer of Xenex. “After hospitals get rid of the water in their facilities, they will need to disinfect the ceilings and walls to prevent mold and bacterial growth. Our device can disinfect their facilities – usually in about 15 minutes per room – and we are ready to assist them via our Flood Remediation Protocol, which has been successfully implemented by other facilities that experienced water damage.”

Hospitals located in Hurricane Sandy’s path which are interested in utilizing Xenex’s devices should contact Xenex at 800 553 0069 or wecare@xenex.com.

Healthcare associated infections (also referred to as HAIs) are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, costing more than $30 billion each year. Evidence continues to mount that the hospital environment plays a critical role in the spread of HAIs, which are caused by deadly pathogens such as C. diff, MRSA, VRE and Acinetobacter. Hospital cleaning teams are not able to disinfect all the surfaces in patient rooms, with research showing that more than half of the surfaces remain untouched. Additionally, deadly “superbugs” are showing resistance to cleaning chemicals, making the pathogens even more difficult to remove and eliminate. 

Xenex devices are made in the U.S. and are friendlier to the environment than current housecleaning chemicals or UV devices using toxic mercury. Xenex is the only company to offer a xenon-based room disinfection product that is patented, tested, and proven to deliver a germicidal dose of UV-C light capable of killing C. diff in four minutes or less. Xenex systems are currently in use by hospitals (including several VA facilities) throughout the U.S., and have proven to be effective against a variety of the most dangerous superbugs, including Clostridium difficile endospores (C. diff), MRSA, VRE, and Acinetobacter. Studies show the Xenex room disinfection system is consistently 20 times more effective than standard chemical cleaning practices.

About Xenex Healthcare Services
Xenex’s patented pulsed xenon UV disinfection systems are utilized for the advanced cleaning of the patient environment in healthcare facilities. The Xenex system is the fastest, safest, most cost-effective, and most portable and user-friendly system available today among room disinfection technologies. Only Xenex uses pulsed xenon and contains no mercury. The Xenex mission is to significantly reduce the number of HAIs that impact the health and lives of millions of patients and their families and become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information please visit http://www.xenex.com.
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San Antonio, September 14, 2012 – Xenex Healthcare Services, the world leader in UV room disinfection systems, today announced that co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Mark Stibich will conduct a presentation entitled “No-Touch Disinfection Systems: Choosing and Using New Technologies for Room Disinfection” on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at AHE EXCHANGE 2012.

 EXCHANGE 2012 is the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) Annual Conference and Healthcare Marketplace, which takes place in Phoenix September 16 – 19, 2012. It is designed for Environmental Services professionals as well as others responsible for the healthcare environment.

 Healthcare associated infections (also referred to as HAIs or hospital acquired infections) are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, costing more than $30 billion each year. Evidence continues to mount that hospital cleanliness plays a role in the spread of HAIs, which are caused by deadly pathogens such as C. diff, MRSA, VRE and Acinetobacter. Hospital cleaning teams are not able to disinfect all the surfaces in patient rooms, with research showing that more than half of the surfaces remain untouched. Additionally, deadly “superbugs” are showing resistance to cleaning fluids, making them even more difficult to remove and eliminate. 

 “Current hospital cleaning equipment and chemicals have proven to be inadequate, but new ‘no-touch” disinfection technologies are able to dramatically reduce the number of pathogens in patient rooms,” said Dr. Stibich. “Because some of these technologies are new, many hospitals are confused about how to evaluate the various systems. My session will provide a decision model for Environmental Services teams to evaluate the different kinds of disinfection systems available today.”

No-touch disinfection systems use technologies such as ultraviolet light or hydrogen peroxide vapor to disinfect rooms and other areas. Dr. Stibich’s presentation includes various aspects of implementing no-touch disinfection systems such as prioritizing areas for disinfection, dispatching the equipment, selecting technologies, assessing clinical efficacy and training.

Dr. Stibich speaks frequently about room disinfection technology and is regarded as a thought leader in the infection control community. As Chief Scientific Officer of Xenex, he oversees scientific research, product development, facility assessments, and protocol design. He also leads new technology development and is an inventor on multiple patents. He meets frequently with infection prevention representatives at healthcare facilities, helping them understand and solve their infection control challenges. Dr. Stibich holds a doctoral degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, a Masters in Health Science, also from Johns Hopkins, and a bachelor’s degree from Yale University.

About Xenex Healthcare Services

Xenex’s patented pulsed xenon UV room disinfection systems are utilized for the advanced cleaning of the patient environment in healthcare facilities. The Xenex system is the fastest, safest, most cost-effective, and easy- to-use system available today among room disinfection technologies. The Xenex mission is to significantly reduce the number of HAIs that impact the health and lives of millions of patients and their families and become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information, visit www.xenex.com.

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