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

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Bache, Sarah Elaine and Maclean, Michelle and MacGregor, S.J. and Anderson, John G. and Gettinby, George and Coia, J. E. and Taggart, I. (2012) 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. Burns, 38 (1). pp. 69-76. ISSN 0305-4179 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2011.03.008)

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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.

ORCID iDs

Bache, Sarah Elaine, Maclean, Michelle ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5750-0397, MacGregor, S.J., Anderson, John G. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4151-1619, Gettinby, George, Coia, J. E. and Taggart, I.;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)