H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S
INFECTION CR
IN THE
SSHAIRS
Piedmont Newton Hospital deploys a pathogen-reducing UVC robot in an ever-evolving battle, adding another layer of safety for staff and patients in a world forever changed by the coronavirus pandemic. by MICHELLE FLOYD In a changed world where cleanliness can play an even more pivotal role in the struggle between life and death, Piedmont Newton Hospital strives to be as sanitary as possible. The facility in late spring 2020 added the Tru-D system—a pathogen-reducing UVC robot—in a bid to buoy its efforts. Originally, two machines were used to disinfect masks and other personal protective equipment during the shortage that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic. After Jan. 1, the hospital decided to use the machines to disinfect ICU rooms at the hospital. “We have already identified that we have low infection rates at the hospital, and we already go above and beyond what is required with the chemicals we use for cleaning the hospital,” said Steve Knowles, an infection preventionist at Piedmont Newton. “We decided to focus on higher-risk areas where we might have infections.”
30 The Newton
The Tru-D device, which generates UVC light energy that modifies the DNA or RNA structure of an infectious cell, remains the only portable UVC disinfection system on the market with patented Sensor360® technology. “You get UV rays from the sun that kills things, too,” Knowles said. “This is a higher dose that you might get from the sun, like a tanning bed.” Sensors calculate the precise dose of UVC energy needed to disinfect a room while compensating for space variables such as size, shape, surface reflectivity and contents. “We already have a 15-step cleaning process we use for cleaning rooms that is used throughout all Piedmont facilities,” said Kevin Richards, the environmental services manager at Piedmont Newton. “This is that extra step in the process to make sure we’re getting those things that can cause infections, especially in critical areas.”
