Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

UV Light Disinfectant Study

A hospital study was conducted to evaluate the practicality and effectiveness of UV light as a germicidal disinfectant after the environmental service (EVS) terminally cleaned confirmed C. diff patient rooms at discharge.

Various swab collections of room surface areas took place during a control phase, baseline testing phase and testing phase, to prove or disprove the use of UV light adjunct to EVS cleaning.

Results showed that tested rooms had experienced a meaningful colony count reduction when using UV light in C. diff rooms. However, procedures must be clearly defined, as well as the workflow process, to avoid impeding bed availability and turn-around time. Additional EVS cleaning process improvements were made to complement the UV light disinfectant.

This case study is part of the Illinois Hospital Association's annual quality awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These hospitals are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim--improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

Award recipients achieve measurable and meaningful progress in providing care that is:

• Safe
• Timely
• Effective
• Efficient
• Equitable
• Patient-centered

(The Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement.)