title: Utilization and impact of a pulsed-xenon ultraviolet room disinfection system and multidisciplinary care team on Clostridium difficile in a long-term acute care facility.
abstract: Health care-associated transmission of Clostridium difficile has been well documented in long-term acute care facilities. This article reports on 2 interventions aimed at reducing the transmission risk: multidisciplinary care teams and no-touch pulsed-xenon disinfection. C difficile transmission rates were tracked over a 39-month period while these 2 interventions were implemented. After a baseline period of 1 year, multidisciplinary teams were implemented for an additional 1-year period with a focus on reducing C difficile infection. During this time, transmission rates dropped 17% (P = .91). In the following 15-month period, the multidisciplinary teams continued, and pulsed-xenon disinfection was added as an adjunct to manual cleaning of patient rooms and common areas. During this time, transmission rates dropped 57% (P = .02). These results indicate that the combined use of multidisciplinary teams and pulsed-xenon disinfection can have a significant impact on C difficile transmission rates in long-term care facilities.
authors.affiliation: Miller Consulting, Marietta, GA.
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Xenex Disinfection Services, San Antonio, TX. Electronic address: sarah.simmons@xenex.com.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.affiliation: Xenex Disinfection Services, San Antonio, TX.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.affiliation: Xenex Disinfection Services, San Antonio, TX.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stachowiak
authors.affiliation: Xenex Disinfection Services, San Antonio, TX.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stibich
mesh_terms: D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014978:Xenon
chemical_list: D014978:Xenon
keywords: Clostridium difficile; Long-term care; Multidisciplinary teams; No-touch disinfection