At the 2010 Decennial Conference on Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) sponsored jointly by SHEA, APIC, CDC and IDSA, the contaminated hospital room and the role of the environment in infection were high agenda items. Two oral sessions (standing room only at both), covered the latest research in the role of the environment in infection and over a dozen poster presentations looked into environment and the benefit of higher rates of disinfection on patient outcome.
Major findings included:
- The extensive work of Philip Carling in showing that more than half of environmental surfaces are not cleaned at terminal clean (in a study of over 100 sites and more than 60,000 surfaces).
- The work of Susan Huang and others showing that if the prior occupant of a room was diagnosed with VRE or MRSA, the subsequent occupant had a 30-60% increase in the risk of acquiring those conditions.
- Presentations by Bill Rutala and others that covered advanced in-room decontamination, including UV-C based technologies.
- Findings from numerous posters showing the benefit of enhanced cleaning of patient environments on infection rates.
Xenex is excited to be part of this emerging area in infection control. The Xenex UV system is faster and more practical than any other automated room decontamination system on the market.