title: A model for choosing an automated ultraviolet-C disinfection system and building a case for the C-suite: Two case reports.
abstract: Environmental disinfection has become the new frontier in the ongoing battle to reduce the risk of health care-associated infections. Evidence demonstrating the persistent contamination of environmental surfaces despite traditional cleaning and disinfection methods has led to the widespread acceptance that there is both a need for reassessing traditional cleaning protocols and for using secondary disinfection technologies. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection is one type of no-touch technology shown to be a successful adjunct to manual cleaning in reducing environmental bioburden. The dilemma for the infection preventionist, however, is how to choose the system best suited for their facility among the many UV-C surface disinfection delivery systems available and how to build a case for acquisition to present to the hospital administration/C-suite. This article proposes an approach to these dilemmas based in part on the experience of 2 health care networks.
authors.affiliation: Universal Health Services, King of Prussia, PA.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.affiliation: Thompson Health and the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vignari
authors.affiliation: Vancouver General Hospital and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bryce
authors.affiliation: Freelance medical writer, Vero Beach, FL. Electronic address: hboehm705@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Helen Boehm
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Retired infection preventionist, Gainesville, FL.
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fauerbach
authors.affiliation: Public health and government relations consultant, Marietta, GA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D001331:Automation / Q000379:methods*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
keywords: Building a business case for infection prevention; Environmental disinfection; Environmental interventions; Evaluating infection prevention technology; Infection prevention; UV-C technology