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Why Not Consider The Air?
If compliance protocols are improving, why are more patients than ever contracting superbugs at hospitals nationwide?
CONSIDER THE FACTS:
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In 2024, there were an estimated 687,000 Hospital-associated infections (HAIs) in U.S. leading to about 72,000 deaths during hospitalizations1.
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Approximately 380,000 people die from infections in long-term care facilities annually2.
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2,000,000 people acquire antibiotic-resistant infections each year in the U.S.
Surgeons wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during surgery. Dental hygienists wear masks and gloves during routine procedures. A crowded emergency room can put everyone at risk for transmitting bioaerosols.
The Power of UV-C
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation or UVGI is a disinfection tool that utilizes UV-C or short wavelength light to inactivate microorganisms. UV-C destroys the nucleic acid in the microorganism and disrupts their DNA leaving them unable to perform any vital cellular functions, virtually rendering them inert. The use of UVGI and UV-C has increased steadily since the mid-20th century.
UV-C technology has been used as a disinfection method for decades in the healthcare industry. The UV-C wavelength of 253.7 nanometers has been proven to be effective at neutralizing dangerous microorganisms. The challenge with UV-C technology has always been the method of delivery. It can’t be used in occupied spaces and is only effective on areas that fall in its direct line of sight.
Until VidaShield!
Why is the air important?
Recent studies show that the airborne dispersion of resistant organisms, such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), often plays a role in non-respiratory infections3.
Hospital air is a potential route of transmission for Acinetobacter and Staphylococcus, important causative agents of HAI-causing infections. Resuspension from foot traffic is known to create 100,000 particles per step4.
C. diff is commonly present in the air, with 69% of infrequently touched surfaces testing positive in an elderly ward. MRSA and C. diff are known to survive for months on hospital surfaces5.
People shed 37 million bacteria each hour, and there is an abundance of human bacteria in the air, floor dust, and ventilation systems6.
How it works
VidaShield is a safe, UV-C, antimicrobial air purification system. It combines an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) chamber and air circulating fans with an overhead ceiling light.
The patented system uses UV-C light and filtration to draw in and treat environmental air. It reduces bacterial and fungal populations in treated air and reduces settling bacteria and fungi from treated air 24/7/365.
VidaShield can treat a volume of air equivalent to an 8’ x 10’ x 10’ room four times per hour and can be a useful component in facility cleaning protocols. VidaShield does not substitute for existing good building air exchange practices or manual cleaning and disinfection practices.
Installation
Installing VidaShield is a simple process. VidaShield fits seamlessly into standard 2×4 drop ceilings. There are several options available for hard ceilings.
Maintenance & Warranty
VidaShield doesn’t require a person to operate the unit and maintenance requirements are minimal on the system. The lumen output on the UV lamp will start to diminish after approximately 9000 hours (375 days) so we recommend you change the UV lamp once per year to maintain maximum efficacy on the unit.
The job of the internal MERV6 filter is to trap dust and particulates and keep them away from the UV lamp and radiation chamber. In a healthcare setting that operates 24/7, we recommend the filters be changed every 3 months. In a dentist’s office, physician’s office, school or commercial building where occupancy is limited to daytime hours, the filters can be changed annually.
Click here for additional information on ordering maintenance kits for VidaShield.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [1].
E Schoyer et al. (2020). Clostridioides difficile Infection – Making Healthcare Safer III [2].
AA Pochtovyi et al. (2021). Contamination of Hospital Surfaces with Bacterial Pathogens under the Current COVID-19 Outbreak [3].
2016 HAI Progress Report [4].
NA Turner et al. (2020). Hospital Infection Control: Clostridioides difficile [5].
A Eichner et al. (2020). Novel photodynamic coating reduces the bioburden on near-patient surfaces thereby reducing the risk for onward pathogen transmission: a field study in two hospitals [6].