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Western Mass. hospital sets new industry standard for patient care and cleanlinessNORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Cooley Dickinson Hospital (CDH) today announced it is the first hospital in New England to use the to disinfect its patient and operating rooms.
Scientifically proven to kill all major classes of microorganisms that cause hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and "superbugs" such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), Clostridium difficile (C-diff.) and flu viruses, among other germs, the Xenex system is the fastest, safest and most effective method for the advanced cleaning of hospital and operating rooms.
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"Years ago, automobile manufacturers installed airbags because seat belts were not enough and created a new standard of safety. With the Xenex technology, CDH is taking infection prevention and patient safety to the next level," Carol Smith, RN, chief operating officer, says of the hospital's decision to adopt the disinfection system, which staff started using several weeks ago.
Hospital-acquired infections (also referred to as healthcare associated infections) caused by "superbugs" such as MRSA and C-diff. are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MRSA is an infection that resists antibiotics. C.diff is a bacteria that can cause diarrhea and when severe can cause sepsis and death.
Joanne Levin, MD, medical director, infection prevention physician, says C.diff. germ is on the rise and disease and death from this infection has risen dramatically. "One type of C-diff. germ has a hard shell, like a seed, that protects it from traditional cleaning products such as bleach. It can live in an environment for a month or more." One approach that can kill the C.diff. spore is the pulsed UV light.
Adds Levin, "the light penetrates the cell wall of the bacteria and makes the DNA clump together. So the germs can't reproduce; they die, and the transmission cycle is stopped."
By disabling spores and germs, the UV technology lowers the number of infection-causing microorganisms and prevents the spread of infection. Infection Prevention Manager Linda Riley, RN, says, "Compared to other hospitals and industry standards CDH's infection rates are already low. But our goal is zero. Adopting the UV technology helps us to continue to reduce our infection rates while improving care for our patients."
"Hospitals need to protect patients by completely disinfecting the rooms and innovative hospitals like Cooley Dickinson are utilizing our proven room disinfection technology to accomplish this," says Brian Cruver, CEO of Xenex Healthcare. "Making the Xenex system part of their standard cleaning procedure will help Cooley Dickinson prevent infections and save patient lives."
The Xenex system uses pulsed xenon technology to deliver high-intensity, broad spectrum UV light to quickly kill microorganisms on surfaces and in the air without contact or additional chemicals. The UV light penetrates the cell walls of microorganism – fusing their DNA – leading to instant damage, the inability to reproduce or mutate and killing the organism.
Adds Riley, "if a cell can't reproduce, it can't live on surfaces. And it will not cause infection."
ABOUT COOLEY DICKINSON HOSPITAL
Serving communities in Western Massachusetts, Cooley Dickinson features centers of excellence in such specialties as orthopedics, cardiology, cancer care and minimally invasive surgery. A staff of 1650 professionals and nearly 400 affiliated physicians comprise an integrated network of emergency, surgical, clinical, rehabilitative, hospice and home care expertise that treats 40,000 emergency patients per year, delivers 800 babies, and collaborates with Massachusetts General Hospital to deliver comprehensive cancer care. Cooley Dickinson's vision is to be the nation's premier not-for-profit community hospital, able to provide local access to the most advanced clinical treatments in a caring and neighborly setting. Nationally recognized for effective, innovative attention to patient safety, Cooley Dickinson Hospital meets the highest standards of bringing medical advances to local communities by truly providing "excellence next door. Learn more at www.cooley-dickinson.org.
ABOUT XENEX HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Xenex develops pulsed xenon UV disinfection systems for the advanced cleaning of the patient environment in healthcare facilities. The new Xenex system is the fastest, safest, most portable and easy to use system available today among room disinfection technologies. The Xenex mission is to significantly reduce the number of HAIs that impact the health and lives of millions of patients and their families and become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.xenex.com/. To read results of the recently completed Xenex trial, call (800) 553-0069.
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