|
Condo UVC Job May be Largest of its Type |
UVC Lights Improve Clinical Pregnancy Rates |
Evidence-Based Design: |
A newly published peer-reviewed abstract1 documents the effectiveness of Steril-Aire UVC Emitters in reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The study was performed at the Buffalo Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo (NY) over 2.5 years. The microorganisms found in the HVAC system included Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Serratia, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-negative Staphlococcus species. The study concluded that Steril-Aire germicidal UVC "eradicated microbes in HVACs and was associated with a decrease in NICU environmental pathogens and tracheal colonization." The study showed a greater than 6 Log (that's 99.9999%) microbial load reduction per square centimeter of HVAC coil in just 6 days!Study Conclusions: The study determined that UVGI decreased HVAC microbial colonization with significant reductions in VAP due to a decrease in NICU environmental pathogens and tracheal colonization. The study finding also included a decrease in antibiotic use in NICU high-risk patients. VAP, the second most common hospital-acquired infection among pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients, is responsible for an increased length of stay and an attributable health-care cost estimated at over $30,000. VAP has also been associated with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. With the NICU implementation of Steril-Aire UVC, the Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo has realized an $800,000/year reduction in direct costs and a $1.7 million/year reduction in 3rd party charges. And, considering the fact that VAP has a mortality estimated to be as high as 27.1%, the Steril-Aire solution is literally ... priceless. 1. Journal of Perinatology (2011), 1-8 |