In a significant stride toward bolstering patient safety and mitigating healthcare-associated infections, the Healthcare Standards Institute (HSI) – an accredited standards developer for healthcare organization management by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) – has revealed the ANSI/HSI 2000-2023 Performance Standard specific to ‘Healthcare Germicidal Light Whole-Room Surface Disinfection’. This standard aims to introduce a consistent, reliable, and scientifically rigorous evaluation framework for Ultraviolet-C (UVC) germicidal light systems.
Developed collaboratively over the past three years, the UV Germicidal Light Whole-Room Surface Disinfection standard represents a culmination of inputs, research, and analysis from industry experts spanning both private and public healthcare sectors. It bridges a long-standing national gap in defining and measuring the effectiveness of disinfected surfaces within healthcare settings.
Dr. Arthur Kreitenberg, the committee chairperson and a surgeon with the University of California, Irvine said, ‘Healthcare providers have, for over a century, looked at disinfected rooms as ideal environments for patient care. However, a national standard defining acceptable measurement parameters hasn’t been available until now’. The performance standard encapsulates specific criteria for testing and appraising UVC devices, including Test Room Specifications, Surface Types, Site Locations, and Pathogens.
Dr. Veronica Muzquiz Edwards, CEO of Healthcare Standards Institute believes healthcare organizations can now aim for HSI certification. This enables them to align their supply chains according to a consistent industry standard. As a result, the selection, implementation, and evaluation of UVC technologies for surface disinfection become harmonized.
Coming to the support of infection control/prevention professionals, Dr. Tara Millson, Director of Infection Prevention at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital suggests this tool adds an objective and validated dimension to the selection of effective UVC systems. ‘This standard allows us to make data-driven decisions protective of our patients, rather than relying solely on manufacturers’ promotional materials’, she appreciates.
In conclusion, this significant step forward in the realm of infection prevention now provides a quantifiable standard to measure the efficiency and duration of room disinfection. This not only enforces rigorous adherence to safety protocols but also goes a long way toward enhancing the care and welfare of patients as the ultimate beneficiaries.