Aged Care

Mitigating infectious germ spread in aged care homes demands a multifrontal approach. Rigorous hygiene protocols, staff training on infection control, regular testing, and vaccination campaigns are pivotal. Implementing advanced technologies like UV222 for continuous disinfection can significantly reduce the risk of outbreaks, fostering a safer environment for vulnerable residents.

SOLVING THE INFECTION TRANSMISSION CRISIS

Australia's aged care homes grapple with multifaceted challenges. Insufficient funding strains resources, impacting staff ratios and quality of care provision. The aging population exacerbates demand, amplifying the need for skilled caregivers. Balancing regulatory compliance, technological advancements, and maintaining dignity in care further compound these complex challenges.

Infection transmission in Australian aged care facilities is a critical concern, posing significant risks to vulnerable residents. These homes face several challenges in mitigating the spread of infections due to communal living, residents' weakened immune systems, and frequent interaction with healthcare personnel and vistors.

The primary culprits for infection spread are respiratory illnesses like influenza and COVID-19, as well as gastrointestinal infections such as norovirus. The close quarters and shared spaces in aged care homes create an environment where viruses and bacteria can easily disseminate among residents. Moreover, elderly individuals often have underlying health conditions, making them more susceptible to infections and their severe complications.

Infection prevention measures are pivotal in these facilities, including stringent hygiene protocols, routine disinfection, and vaccination campaigns among residents and staff. Adequate training for personnel on infection control practices is vital to curb transmission. Additionally, prompt identification, isolation, and management of cases are crucial steps in containing outbreaks. Addressing infection transmission in aged care homes demands a multi-pronged approach, integrating robust infection control strategies, improved ventilation systems, regular testing, continuous monitoring to safeguard the health and well-being of the elderly residents and engineering controls such as 222nm UVC lighting.

BEST IN CLASS SOLUTION

UV222 lights presents an ideal solution for infection control in aged care homes. Unlike legacy 254nm UVC, UV222 light has a wavelength of 222 nanometres which effectively kills pathogens like bacteria and viruses while posing no risk to human health.

One significant benefit of UV222 in aged care homes is its ability to disinfect air and surfaces, simultaneously and continuously. Its shorter wavelength doesn’t penetrate the outer layer of skin or eyes, making it safe for continuous human exposure. This technology can be installed as overhead fixtures to continuously sanitize shared spaces, reducing the risk of airborne transmission of infections such as flu or COVID-19.

Moreover, UV222 offers a proactive approach, actively targeting pathogens in real-time, complementing existing infection control measures. Its non-toxic nature and compatibility with occupied spaces make it an ideal solution for environments like aged care facilities where the health of vulnerable individuals is paramount.

Implementing UV222 lights in aged care homes presents a transformative opportunity to enhance infection prevention, creating safer environments and potentially reducing the frequency and severity of outbreaks, ultimately safeguarding the well-being of elderly residents. UV222 is a novel technology based on environmentally friendly Krypton Chloride (KrCl). The UV222 lamps emit light at a wavelength of 222nm and is fitted with an optical filter preventing emission of light above 230nm. The UV222 lamps are highly efficient in deactivating viruses and bacteria, while at the same time being safe for humans.

SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER THAN UPPER ROOM UV LIGHTS

Compared with traditional UVC-lamps used for upper-air UVGI disinfection, UV222 lamps have several advantages:

1) UV222 lights are safe for humans and can thus sanitise air and surfaces around the residents continuously. This allows for immediate and direct elimination of viruses and bacteria when these are released into the air by either the residents themselves, by staff, or by visitors. This is different from rooms fitted with traditional Upper-room UVGI, where the released pathogen must first circulate into the upper air before it can be targeted. UV222 lights target the pathogen as soon as it leaves its source. UV222 lights therefore efficiently reduces risk of infection immediately at the site of human-to-human transmission.

2) UV222 lights target not only air but also surfaces continuously. This is important as contact with contaminated surfaces is the significant route of transmission for viral diseases and a major source of transmission of bacterial infections. Traditional Upper-room UVGI systems do not target surfaces at all. As an example, one of the most frequent causes of serious pneumonia in the elderly is bacterial infection. UV222 reduces the risk of bacterial pneumonia as this technology directly targets bacteria on surfaces continuously. By contrast, upper-air UVGI does not target bacteria on surfaces and therefore does not reduce the risk of bacterial pneumonia.

3) UV222 lights deliver the equivalent of >30 air changes per hour (ach). This exceeds Upper-room UVGI systems that deliver a maximum of 16 air changes per hour. The UV222 lights are thus also more efficient as measured by number of ach.

4) Upper-room UV lighting covers less than 10% of a room’s volume, whereas UV222 lighting cover more than 70%. This important difference means UV222 lights inactivates harmful viruses and bacteria from the moments it’s expelled. UV222 is capable of reducing the viral load within a room by 90% in under 2 minutes, whereas Upper Room UV lights required at least 30 minutes. This is too long, since the transmission of a sufficient amount of airborne pathogens to insure infectivity requires only 5-10 minutes of exposure to the pathogen.

Upper-room UV air sterilization has proven to be very effective in controlling the spread of Tuberculosis in TB wards. However, since the light only covers about 5% of a room's volume, infection transmission is only reduced by 15-20%. Therefore, additional spread mitigation measures are required to supplement upper-room UV lights. These additional measures include stringent infection control procedures and enhanced ventilation and filtration systems.

5) UV222 lights do not contain dangerous parts and is based on harmless KrCl. By contrast, upper-air UVGI systems are based on mercury, a highly poisonous and environmentally dangerous metal. Choosing UV222 lights therefore represents an environmentally friendly solution that both reduces the risk of disease transmission while also prioritizing the environment.

The risk of transmission of infection is higher in common areas compared to private or personal spaces.

a) In the common areas the risk increases if there are physical activities because more infectious materials are released into the air and onto surfaces.

b) The risk also increases in areas where many residents (and potentially also staff and non-residents) are spending time together, and further if the distance between each person is limited.

c) Individual rooms where vulnerable residents spend the majority of their days should also be considered as high-risk areas. These residents have interactions with their caregivers and guests in their private rooms, where there is often limited space. Therefore, the risk of transmission of infection is also high.

When UV222 lights are installed in private rooms, they can easily be programmed to switch off during the night or whatever periods desired by the resident. UV222 lights come with motion sensor and sophisticated software which will switch on the light whenever visitors or caregivers enter the room.

EXAMPLE

We suggest using a combination of our specially designed UV222 Downlights and wall mounted standard solutions as depicted in the image below.

SAFETY

222 UVC Australia in conjunction with UV Medico carries out in-depth engineering and design for every UV222 lighting project. This includes 4D computational modelling to optimize light positioning and to ensure compliance with ACGIH Threshold Limit Values for human exposure to 222nm wavelength light.

By ensuring the TLV for eye and skin exposure is adhered to, means staff and residents (even those exposed daily and for many decades) are not at risk of damage to their eyes or skin. To put this in context, the ACGIH TLV has been verified by scientific research that proves exposure to sunlight for 10 minutes per day (at UV Index 4), is equivalent to 30,000 hours of exposure to 222nm wavelength light. The means UV222 lights are orders of magnitude safer than being exposure to sunlight.

RISK

222nm wavelength light is not the same as 254nm light. 254nm light is well known to cause harm to eyes and skin. Although both wavelength fall within the UV-C spectrum, 222nm light cannot be tarred with the same brush.

222nm light when used in compliance with ACGIH TLV, EU Exposure Directive or ICNIRP exposure limit recommendation, poses no risk of harm to eyes or skin. Furthermore UV222 lights do not produce any detectable levels of Ozone. Therefore UV Medico’s UV222 lights pose no health risk to staff or residents.

BENEFITS

UV222 offers substantial health advantages in aged care homes, primarily by creating safer, pathogen-reduced environments for residents and staff. Its targeted disinfection properties combat airborne and surface-bound pathogens like viruses and bacteria without harming human tissue. This technology minimizes the risk of infections, particularly crucial for elderly individuals with compromised immune systems.

By continuously sanitizing shared spaces, UV222 reduces the likelihood of infectious outbreaks such as colds, flu or COVID-19. This proactive measure not only safeguards the health of residents but also alleviates stress on healthcare systems, potentially preventing severe illness and hospitalizations among the elderly.

UV222 promotes a healthier living environment, potentially enhancing the overall well-being of residents by lowering their exposure to harmful pathogens. It’s a non-toxic method for carrying out continuous sanitation and does not impose extra labour costs.

Furthermore, UV222 lights does not contain mercury and is manufactured to be an environment friendly and sustainable product. When the lamp reaches its +17,000 hour lifespan, it’s changed out and recycled.

The most important benefits of our UV222 installations are as follows.

1. Ensured compliance with best practices and standards.

2. Infectious germs are inactivated from the moment it’s expelled, thus ensuring the concentration of harmful microbes is maintained to low levels conducive to mitigating infection transmission. (Note: 254nm GUV devices are not capable of inactivating germs at the point or moment it’s expelled.)

3. 222nm light inactivates pathogen by rendering its DNA & RNA incapable of reproducing, while preserving the identifiable structure of the pathogen. This means people’s immune system deal with it without the pathogen causing harm. Hence it delivers long-term protection similar to vaccines, but without side-effects.

Overall, the implementation of UV222 technology in aged care homes aligns with the goal of fostering a healthier, safer, and more hygienic setting, contributing significantly to the physical well-being of the elderly population and the staff who care for them.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Healthcare administrators have both a duty of care and responsibility to spend wisely. UV222 lights enables administrators to deliver both.

Whilst UV222 is dearer than Upper-room UV, UV222 is >70% efficient vs the <30% efficiency of Upper-room UV. It’s this difference that delivers UV222 superior value for money. UV222 simply ensures that the number of illness causing infections is substantially reduced. Thus savings are realized from reduced staff absenteeism, reduced resident hospital admissions and better heath of residents and staff.

The chart below illustrates the cumulative savings achievable over 5-years in an aged care home accommodating 30 residents. The savings here is typically more than $110,000 per year. The payback period for UV222 light installation is only a few months and the return on investment is generally over 250%.

Saving lives and saving livelihoods, now that’s real value for money.

In conclusion

Far-UVC lights represent a groundbreaking advancement in infection control within residential aged care settings. By harnessing the germicidal properties of Far-UVC light while ensuring safety for human exposure, aged care homes can effectively combat the spread of infectious diseases. As care facilities continue to prioritize safety and quality of care, integrating Far-UVC lighting solutions offers a proactive and sustainable approach to maintaining a hygienic environment conducive to good health and wellness.

As aged care homes face the increasing cost burden of Haalthcare Acquired Infections alongside the rising prevailance of drug and bleach resistant "superbugs", it's never been more essential to implement Far-UVC germicidal lights.