Clinical studies of the High-Intensity Narrow-Spectrum light Environmental Decontamination System (HINS-light EDS), for continuous disinfection in the burn unit inpatient and outpatient settings

Abstract

Infections are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in burn patients and prevention of contamination from exogenous sources including the hospital environment is becoming increasingly emphasised. The High-Intensity Narrow-Spectrum light Environmental Decontamination System (HINS-light EDS) is bactericidal yet safe for humans, allowing continuous disinfection of the environment surrounding burn patients. Environmental samples were collected from inpatient isolation rooms and the outpatient clinic in the burn unit, and comparisons were then made between the bacterial contamination levels observed with and without use of the HINS-light EDS. Over 1000 samples were taken. Inpatient studies, with sampling carried out at 0800 h, demonstrated a significant reduction in the average number of bacterial colonies following HINS-light EDS use of between 27% and 75%, (p<0.05). There was more variation when samples were taken at times of increased activity in the room. Outpatient studies during clinics demonstrated a 61% efficacy in the reduction of bacterial contamination on surfaces throughout the room during the course of a clinic (p=0.02). The results demonstrate that use of the HINS-light EDS allows efficacious bacterial reductions over and above that achieved by standard cleaning and infection control measures in both inpatient and outpatient settings in the burn unit.

Synergistic efficacy of 405 nm light and chlorinated disinfectants for the enhanced decontamination of Clostridium difficile spores

“…The results presented in this paper provide proof-of-concept validation that synergistic sporicidal activity can be achieved using spore suspensions and high irradiance levels, however it would be of great interest in future studies to replicate the results with contaminated surfaces representative of what would be expected within the clinical environment, and lower 405 nm light irradiance levels such as those used for environmental decontamination applications [13,14]. A limiting factor of 405 nm light over other technologies such as UV-light, hydrogen peroxide vapour or ozone, is the lower sporicidal activity, however the ability to enhance this activity through its combined use with disinfectants -which would already be in routine use within the hospital environment -coupled with the ability to apply this technology safely in the presence of patients and staff [17][18][19] gives this technology attractive features for provision of continuous environmental decontamination against C. difficile.…”

“…A recent technology that has been proposed for environmental decontamination applications is the use of 405 nm violet-blue light [13][14][15][16]. Recent studies carried out in hospital isolation rooms have demonstrated the use of this technology for continuous decontamination of occupied environments, with reductions in the levels of bacterial contaminants by up to 80%, over and above that achieved with standard cleaning and infection control procedures alone [13][14][15][16].…”

“…Recent studies carried out in hospital isolation rooms have demonstrated the use of this technology for continuous decontamination of occupied environments, with reductions in the levels of bacterial contaminants by up to 80%, over and above that achieved with standard cleaning and infection control procedures alone [13][14][15][16]. Although less germicidal than ultraviolet light, violet-blue light has the advantage that it can be used at levels which provide an antimicrobial effect whilst being non-detrimental to exposed individuals, or indeed to mammalian cell preparations [17][18][19].…”

Decontamination of the Hospital Environment: New Technologies for Infection Control

“…Although not yet commercially available, this user-friendly, ceiling-mounted light source has been evaluated within clinical environments with successful results [57][58][59].…”

“…Further confirmation of the effectiveness of the system was obtained by switching off the EDS and observing that bacterial contamination levels increased and returned to around pre-treatment levels when operation of the system ceased. In addition to its use for disinfection of occupied isolation rooms, a study by Bache et al [58] demonstrated the efficacy of the system for decontamination of a Burns outpatient clinic, with a 61% efficacy achieved. Results have also demonstrated its efficacy for significantly reducing the environmental microbial contamination of non-patient environments including a nurses changing area [60].…”