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Category: Infection Control
Product description and innovation synopsis:
Xenex LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots have been proven to quickly destroy microscopic pathogens in ORs using intense pulsed xenon ultraviolet (UV) light. Providing safe and efficient OR disinfection, LightStrike robots are utilized for terminal cleans, yet fast enough for between case cleaning too. A recent study conducted at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that a 2-minute cycle of pulsed xenon UV eliminated 72 percent more pathogens on high-touch surface areas in the OR than manual cleaning alone. The portable disinfection robots are easy to use and Xenex provides customers with a comprehensive infection rate reduction program that includes data analysis, implementation and training, ongoing support, and reporting.
(Image credit: Xenex)
What sets this product apart from others available in the industry?
LightStrike robots are the only UV disinfection technology credited by hospitals in peer-reviewed and published studies for helping them reduce SSI rates. The published outcome studies showed reductions in SSI rates from 46-100 percent. Furthermore, older UV technologies that utilize mercury bulbs to create continuous mercury UV light at 253.7nm have been shown to cause materials and equipment damage in ORs. Pulsed xenon UV light produced by a LightStrike robot covers the entire germicidal spectrum and does not cause damage to hospital materials and/or equipment. Patient safety is top of mind for healthcare facilities. Hospitals have limited capital and must prioritize where to spend it. Xenex will provide robots to a facility at no cost until they achieve agreed upon infection reductions. We know that our proprietary room disinfection technology works and we are willing to partner with them to enhance patient safety.
How does this product benefit the surgical team and aid in better outcomes?
Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) devastate patients and can cost a healthcare facility more than $50,000 in additional patient care per infection. Surfaces in the operating room (OR) may harbor superbugs and other pathogens that contribute to the infection risk. Studies have shown that contamination builds in the OR during the day, even when it is manually cleaned between procedures. Some of the superbugs that threaten patients and can cause SSIs, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas, are capable of living on OR surfaces from 1.5 hours to more than 30 months. LightStrike robots destroy dangerous microorganisms that may remain on surfaces in the OR after it has been manually cleaned. The recent MD Anderson study is exciting because the researchers determined that running a 2-minute disinfection cycle in the OR between cases with Xenex’s pulsed xenon UV device can be feasible and effective. We’re seeing a lot of interest from OR directors, especially for hip, knee, heart and spine procedures, about how to integrate a between-case 2-minute disinfection cycle to provide a cleaner environment for patients. Investing in technology demonstrated to materially improve patient safety is a clear winner for healthcare facilities and their patients. Patients and their doctors are increasingly concerned about the risk of healthcare associated infections, while hospitals and surgery centers are looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their competition. Utilizing LightStrike robots to quickly destroy pathogens that can cause infections sends a clear message that the hospital is committed to the safety of its patients.
