A UK specialist in ultraviolet light technology has launched a new solution, designed to reduce the risk of Coronavirus and other bacteria within veterinary surgeries, where ventilation is of utmost importance and may be restricted.
Pathogen Solutions has made Medixair available to veterinary surgeries, a portable air sterilisation solution that is proven to eliminate airborne viruses and bacteria as part of effective infection control regimes. The 110W unit employs high-intensity ultraviolet light to decontaminate the air within indoor environments. The portable machine works by drawing air into the unit and exposing it to UV light which is a proven method for killing bacteria and viruses. The clean disinfected air is then re-circulated back into the room.
While official Government guidance states indoor work environments should have windows open wherever possible, many veterinary rooms are not all configured with windows. The use of ultraviolet (UV) light to improve indoor infection control procedures can help to ensure cleaner airflow indoors. A recent report published within The Lancet found that machines that emit UV light can cut transmission of four major super bugs by a cumulative 30 percent. The finding is specific to patients who stay overnight in a room where someone with a known positive culture or infection of a drug-resistant organism had previously been treated.
It is thought that greater installation of similar UV devices within veterinary surgeries could provide a second line of defence against Coronavirus and other airborne infections on the UK’s road to normality.
John Burrows, director at Pathogen Solutions, explained: “Indoor air quality has historically been neglected compared with outdoors, where the restricted use of smoke free fuels and lead-free fuel have led to major improvements. Continued progress in healthcare through the reduction in smoking has added significantly to improved public health. The elimination of airborne viruses and bacteria from our hospitals, homes and offices will add a further dimension to healthy living; removing microorganisms and contamination from poorly ventilated environments and bringing fresh air indoors.”
Medixair is a proven product for managing the spread of Coronavirus, but its effectiveness is not exclusive to respiratory infections. As a germicidal air steriliser, it is effective against a wide range of illnesses, including influenza, MRSA, tuberculosis, norovirus and more.
Burrows added: “As we continue to learn more about virus management and prevention, solutions such as Medixair could become a useful tool for veterinary surgeries as they aim to create create indoor working environments that are safer and healthier, protecting staff and providing reassurance.”
