Patient and health care worker perceptions of daily use of ultraviolet-C technology as an adjunct to daily cleaning in an academic hospital: Secondary study of Ultra Violet-C Light Evaluation as an Adjunct to Removing Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms

Clare Rock; Melanie S Curless; Kathryn A Carson; Elaine Nowakowski; Verna Scheeler; Lisa L Maragakis

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2017.08.039

Patient and health care worker perceptions of daily use of ultraviolet-C technology as an adjunct to daily cleaning in an academic hospital: Secondary study of Ultra Violet-C Light Evaluation as an Adjunct to Removing Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms

Am J Infect Control. 2018 Mar;46(3):348-349. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.08.039. Epub 2017 Oct 19.

Authors

Clare Rock¹, Melanie S Curless², Kathryn A Carson³, Elaine Nowakowski², Verna Scheeler⁴, Lisa L Maragakis⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD. Electronic address: clare.rock@jhmi.edu.
² Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD.
³ Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
⁴ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
⁵ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD.

PMID: 29056329
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.08.039

Abstract

A cluster randomized crossover trial is in progress at The Johns Hopkins Hospital to investigate the impact of daily ultraviolet (UV)-C light disinfection on the acquisition of health care-associated pathogens. To understand perceptions and challenges to daily use of UV-C, we surveyed health care workers (HCWs) and patients. Most HCWs think daily UV-C decreases the patients' risk of acquiring infection. Daily UV-C is acceptable to patients and may enhance their overall hospital experience.

Keywords: UV-C light disinfection; health care worker perceptions; health care–associated infections; multidrug-resistant organisms; patient perceptions; patient room cleaning.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Academic Medical Centers
Bacteria / drug effects*
Bacteria / radiation effects*
Data Collection
Disinfection / methods
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Personnel*
Humans
Infection Control / methods*
Inpatients*
Patients' Rooms
Surveys and Questionnaires
Ultraviolet Rays*