Xenex Robot zaps germs to prevent infections at Alexandria hospital

Rachael Sparks, technical director of Xenex Disinfection Services, prepares ‘Miss Violet’ for a demonstration Thursday in Rapides Regional Medical Center. ‘Miss Violet’ is a robot that uses ultraviolet rays to kill germs. / Tia Owens-Powers/towens@thetowntalk.com

Nearly 300 people a day die from infections acquired while they were in the hospital.

Rapides Regional Medical Center’s new weapon to combat that is a 5-foot-2-inch super cleaner named Miss Violet. Miss Violet isn’t a maid, but a germ-zapping robot that kills pathogens humans can’t see.

“We all do our best job to keep our hospitals clean and disinfected,” said Rachael Sparks, technical director of Xenex Disinfection Services, the device’s manufacturer. “But we can’t see everything. Of course, we clean the rooms the best we can, but we know there are contaminants left behind. This removes contaminants so the room is as clean and safe as possible for the next patient.”

The disinfecting robot emits intense ultraviolet rays that are 25,000 times brighter than the sun. Those rays kill germs on high-touch, hard-to-reach surfaces in as little as a few minutes, penetrating their cell walls and fusing their DNA so they are unable to reproduce or mutate.

“Bacteria, mold, spores, fungus — all the things we worry about patients being exposed to,” Sparks said.

“Miss Violet is going to take our cleaning to a whole other level,” said Diane Fulton, chief nursing officer at RRMC. “Of course, the hospital does everything we can to prevent infections, but Miss Violet will ensure any bacteria left behind will be killed.”

Xenex says its robotic disinfecting is 20 times more effective than manual cleaning and can reduce infections by 50 percent or more. “The number of hospital-acquired infection deaths exceeds the number of automobile accident, breast cancer and HIV deaths combined,” Sparks said.

There are more than 300 such devices in operation in more than 200 hospitals. At RRMC, it will mainly be used in intensive care units. It takes 10-15 minutes to disinfect the typical patient room at RRMC.

Because of the intensity of the ultraviolet light, no one can be in the room while it is being disinfected. The light cannot pass through the glass doors of the room and a special sensor shuts the device down if those doors are accidentally opened.

Source: The Town Talk

Erlanger gets new cleaning robot to prevent spread of infections

Erlanger Health System has added a “germ-zapping robot” to its team to help keep facilities clean and to prevent the spread of infections.

The robot, which Erlanger leaders likened to R2D2 from “Star Wars,” is called Xenex. It uses pulses of xenon ultraviolet light—which is 25,000 times more powerful than sunlight—to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi and bacterial spores.

Erlanger is the first hospital in Chattanooga and the second in Tennessee to have this technology, leaders said.

“Our team members are very excited to be using this kind of advanced technology in their daily work,” Steve Wheeler with Erlanger’s environmental services said, according to a news release. “The environmental services team feels very empowered because they can clearly see that they’re saving lives by preventing infections.”

Erlanger’s environmental services partner Sodexo purchased the robot for $80,000, according to a spokeswoman.

According to hospital leaders, studies have shown that Xenex room disinfection is 20 times more effective than other standard cleaning practices.

Click here to read a CNN article from last year about the technology.

Xenex is effective against a variety of dangerous superbugs, such as lostridium difficile endospores, norovirus, influenza and staph bacteria like methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Erlanger leaders said.

One in 20 hospital patients are battling an infection that they got on-site, according to CNN.

It takes between five and 10 minutes for the device to disinfect a patient room, patient bathroom or operating room.

The cost to clean each room comes out to $3 a room, also according to a hospital spokeswoman.

The robot’s pulsing ultraviolet light washes over the surfaces where germs reside without leaving a chemical residue.

To disinfect a room after standard cleaning procedures are complete, hospital team members wheel the Xenex robot into the room, begin the automated sequence and then leave the room. For enhanced safety, a sign placed outside the door warns people not to enter, and a motion sensor automatically shuts off the machine if someone should enter.

“We already have a strong infection prevention program. The Xenex technology allows us to be even more proactive in protecting the health of our patients and staff,” Coretha Weaver, Erlanger infection prevention coordinator, said, according to a news release. “This technology is used in high-risk areas, including operating rooms and patient rooms, in conjunction with the extensive cleaning services already provided by our environmental services team.”

Source: Nooga

 

Spencer Hospital: 1st in Iowa to Implement Xenex Disinfection Robot

Spencer Hospital , in Spencer Iowa, is the first in their region to implement Xenex Disinfection Robot.

Source: xenexdisinfection

Meet the Newest Member of Erlanger’s Healthcare Team: Xenex’s Germ-Zapping Robot

Erlanger Health System has taken a giant leap into the future with the addition of a germ-fighting robot that uses ultraviolet light to zap harmful bacteria from equipment and areas throughout the hospital.

Resembling R2D2 from Star Wars, Xenex Disinfection Services’ robot uses pulsed xenon ultraviolet (UV-C) light that is 25,000 times more powerful than sunlight to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even bacterial spores. Studies show that the Xenex UV disinfection system is consistently 20 times more effective than standard chemical cleaning practices and effective against a variety of the most dangerous superbugs, including Clostridium difficile endospores (C. diff), norovirus, influenza, and staph bacteria like methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA.

In just five to 10 minutes, the device can disinfect a patient room, patient bathroom or operating room (OR) by pulsing ultraviolet light, which washes over the surfaces where germs reside without leaving a chemical residue. To disinfect a room after standard cleaning procedures are complete, hospital team members wheel the Xenex robot into the room, begin the automated sequence, and then leave the room. For enhanced safety, a sign placed outside the door warns people not to enter, and a motion sensor automatically shuts off the machine if someone should enter.

Erlanger is the first hospital in Chattanooga and the second hospital in Tennessee to use the Xenex robot. “We already have a strong infection prevention program. The Xenex technology allows us to be even more proactive in protecting the health of our patients and staff,” said Coretha Weaver, Erlanger infection prevention coordinator. “This technology is used in high risk areas, including operating rooms and patient rooms, in conjunction with the extensive cleaning services already provided by our environmental services team.”

“Our team members are very excited to be using this kind of advanced technology in their daily work,” said Steve Wheeler with Erlanger’s Environmental Services. “The environmental services team feels very empowered because they can clearly see that they’re saving lives by preventing infections.”

Patient safety is always our number one priority,” said Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, Erlanger President and CEO. “Erlanger has long been recognized as the region’s leader in medical technology and highly specialized care, so it’s only fitting that we should employ the same level of technological innovation when it comes to preventing infections. One hospital-acquired infection is one too many, so we are excited to begin using the Xenex system to help us achieve our goal of zero infections.”

About Xenex Disinfection Services

Xenex’s patented pulse xenon UV room disinfection system is a pesticidal device used for the advanced environmental cleaning of healthcare facilities. The Xenex system has been repeatedly shown to integrate smoothly into hospital cleaning operations because of its speed and ease of use. The Xenex mission is to eliminate bacteria, viruses and spores in the patient environment that can cause hospital acquired infections and to become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information, visit www.xenex.com.

About Erlanger Health System

The Erlanger Health System has five Tennessee-based medical campuses, including the region’s only children’s hospital and Level 1 Trauma Center, providing the highest level of trauma care. Affiliated with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga, Erlanger is also the region’s only academic teaching center and treats more than a quarter million patients every year.

Source: Herald Online

 

 

Rose Medical Center is First Hospital in Colorado to Implement Xenex Disinfection System

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As hospitals across the nation look for new and innovative ways to battle deadly pathogens and kill multi-drug resistant organisms that put patients at risk, Rose Medical Center has become the first hospital in Colorado to install a germ-zapping robot that eliminates hard-to-kill bugs in hard-to-clean places.

Xenex Disinfection Services’ UV disinfection system is the fastest, safest and most effective method for the advanced cleaning of hospital rooms, scientifically proven to destroy all major classes of microorganisms that cause hospital acquired infections (HAI).

HAIs, which are caused by deadly pathogens such as MRSA, Clostridium difficile (C. diff), pneumonia and Acinetobacter, are the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Xenex disinfection device uses pulsed xenon ultraviolet (UV-C) light that is 25,000 times more powerful than sunlight to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi and even bacterial spores. The system is effective against even the most dangerous pathogens, including C. diff, norovirus, influenza and staph bacteria including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA. In minutes the device can disinfect a patient room, patient bathroom or operating room by pulsing light, which washes over the surfaces where germs reside.

The Xenex system has been credited for helping other healthcare facilities in the U.S. decrease their MRSA and C. diff infection rates. The Xenex UV disinfection system can disinfect a room in minutes and is easily portable, allowing it to be used in virtually any location within the hospital. Because the light is extremely intense, the machine operates on its own once it’s set up in a room. For enhanced safety, a sign placed outside the door warns people not to enter, and a motion sensor automatically shuts off the machine if someone should enter.

“At Rose, the safety of the patient is always our top priority,” said Lynne Wagner, Chief Nursing Officer at Rose Medical Center. “There is a lot we can do with hospital-grade germicides and bleach to sterilize surfaces, but there are always nooks and crannies that are hard to reach, and some bugs like C. diff are even showing resistance to chemical disinfectants. That’s why it was crucial for us to take this battle against hospital acquired infections to the next level, and the Xenex robot allows us to do just that.”

About Rose Medical Center

Well known as a Denver institution and a 9th Avenue landmark for more than 60 years, Rose Medical Center has earned its reputation as Denver’s “Baby Hospital” while becoming a leader in comprehensive women’s, surgical and endoscopy services, heart and vascular, orthopedics, total joint replacement, bariatrics, and sports, internal and aesthetic medicine. With origins in Jewish teachings, traditions and community, Rose’s founders built this hospital to “serve the need of every creed.”

By offering a high level of expertise and service across all disciplines, Rose has truly become a destination hospital, attracting patients from throughout Colorado and around the world. Learn more at www.rosemed.com.

About Xenex Disinfection Services

Xenex’s patented pulsed xenon UV room disinfection system is a pesticidal device used for the advanced environmental cleaning of healthcare facilities. The Xenex system has been repeatedly shown to integrate smoothly into hospital cleaning operations because of its speed and ease of use. The Xenex mission is to eliminate bacteria, viruses and spores in the patient environment that can cause hospital acquired infections and to become the new standard method of disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information, visit www.xenex.com.

Contacts

Rose Medical Center
Cara Welch, 303-320-2819
Cara.Welch@HealthONEcares.com
or
Xenex Disinfection Services
Melinda Hart, 210-240-4669
melinda.hart@xenex.com