The effect of portable pulsed xenon ultraviolet light after terminal cleaning on hospital-associated Clostridium difficile infection in a community hospital

Abstract

There is evidence that contamination of patient rooms from previous occupants is associated with hospital-associated Clostridium difficile infection (HA-CDI). During January 2011, the use of 2 portable pulsed xenon ultraviolet light devices (PPX-UV) to disinfect patient rooms was added to routine hospital discharge cleaning in a community hospital. In 2010, the HA-CDI rate was 9.46 per 10,000 patient-days; in 2011, the HA-CDI rates was 4.45 per 10,000 patient-days (53% reduction, P = .01). The number of deaths and colectomies attributable to hospital-associated C difficile infection also declined dramatically.

Keywords: C difficile; Colectomy; Disinfection; Hospital infection; Technology; UV light.