Discover The Power of Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) Light as a Disinfectant

May 17, 2023

In the last decade, the demand for safer and more efficient means of disinfection has risen exponentially in the healthcare environment. From water to air to surface disinfection, UV-C light has quickly become an industry standard. This article will discuss the importance of disinfection in a medical setting as well as explore relevant solutions currently available.

So What Is UV-C Light?

There are three different variations of ultraviolet (UV) light naturally produced by the sun that are invisible to the human eye and defined by wavelength.

UV-A

315-400 nm

UV-A rays have a relatively long wavelength and is the light that is responsible for the immediate tanning effect as 95% of radiation that reaches the surface of the Earth is UV-A. It is typically harnessed in the form of black lights when the glow emitted by the light is converted into visible light by phosphors particles.

UV-B

280-315 nm

UV-B rays have a medium wavelength and are the cause of sunburns. These are the bulbs typically found in tanning beds and exposure can be harmful and is known to promote the development of skin cancer.

UV-C

100-280 nm

UV-C has the shortest wavelength and is naturally absorbed by the atmosphere. Any amount of direct exposure to this light is harmful to human health. However, it is this variation of UV light that scientists have since harnessed in a multitude of ways to safely kill harmful microorganisms by altering their DNA structure to the point of non-viability.¹

In medical facilities, ensuring the disinfection of ‘superbugs’ like MRSA, C diff, and VRE is vital to the safety of patients and staff alike. In a recent article published by Healthcare Purchasing News, the need for quick turnover of patient and operating rooms requires a thorough and rapid method to disinfect these spaces.² By introducing UV-C light products, more specifically portable solutions like UV-C handhelds, and countertop-mounted machines, hospitals can now significantly increase the speed and efficiency of their infection protocols.

Compared to other disinfection methods, UV-C light options are among the most cost- effective in the long term. It eliminates the dependency on chemical disinfectants, making it environmentally-friendly. It also proves equally as efficient in stemming the spread of infection into the surrounding environment as its chemical counterparts.³

UV-C light is now widely considered an important adjunctive measure in hospital infection protocols, for its versatility. As such, it is important that any solution employing UV-C light to be convenient and safe as it is efficient.

BFW INTRODUCES THE NEW UV LIGHTHOUSE TO COMPREHENSIVELY DISINFECT HEADLIGHTS BETWEEN USE. IN JUST ONE MINUTE IT INACTIVATES 99.99% OF COMMON HOSPITAL VIRUSES AND BACTERIA.

Enter the BFW UV Lighthouse which satisfies the above mentioned criteria in spectacular form. When placed outside of an operating room, the UV Lighthouse is the perfect size to disinfect a surgical headlight so it will be ready for the next wearer.

With its minimal dimensions, the UV Lighthouse can be placed conveniently in easy to access areas such as operating room sub-sterile, nurse stations, ICU stations, breakrooms, and near patient rooms to allow for fast, easy, and effective disinfection. The UV Lighthouse also has a fully-enclosed chamber which prevents any UV-C exposure to the user.

In just one minute, the new BFW UV Lighthouse is capable of disinfecting items carried from room-to-room and patient-to-patient like phones, tablets, stethoscopes, walkie talkies. It is capable of holding 13″ laptops, killing 99.99% of common hospital viruses and bacteria⁴, without risk of damage.

BACTERIA AND PATHOGENS CANNOT BECOME RESISTANT TO UV LIGHT LIKE THEY CAN CERTAIN ANTIBIOTICS AND ANTIBACTERIAL PRODUCTS.⁴

The UV Lighthouse is also safe for use on delicate medical equipment where chemical use may not be an option. Additionally, it is an ideal alternative where and when the goal is to limit chemical exposure. It is safer to enter a room after a germicidal UV product disinfects than if a room has just been sprayed down with harsh chemicals.

A critical component to the process is to verify the germicidal UVC effectiveness. For this reason, a 12-pack of Dosimeter cards is supplied with each BFW UV Lighthouse. These provide real-time feedback and a visual indication of the efficacy of the UV-C bulbs with color-changing UVC sensitive inks.

Bulbs are rated to last for 11,000 hours. They can be easily replaced and BFW provides replacement bulbs to purchase.

In conclusion, when it comes to preventive disinfection measures in the medical setting, UV-C stands out as a superior option. Its efficiency of killing harmful viruses and bacteria found in hospitals, paired with safe options for use, UV-C is quick to become a permanent fixture in hospitals, clinics, and laboratories alike.

CITATIONS

Interclean, “UV-C Light Disinfection for Hospitals” June 8, 2020, https://www.intercleanshow.com/news/healthcare/uvc-cleaning-healthcare/
Health Purchasing News Online, “Infection Prevention Challenges Require New Solutions” Silva, Brenda, February 23, 2023, https://www.hpnonline.com/infection-prevention/article/21294500/infection-prevention-challenges-require-new-solutions
Environments, “UV Disinfection vs Chemical Cleaners” May 26, 2021, https://www.environments.tech/post/uv-disinfection-vs-chemical-cleaners
Insights, Regency Lighting, “Using UV light to kill viruses like COVID-19” Espino, Luis, December 16, 2020, https://insights.regencylighting.com/can-uv-light-kill-viruses-like-covid-19
Kill rate based on third-party biological lab testing (BSL-2 certified facility). A 99.99% kill is achieved on most of the viruses and bacteria that were tested.

Discover The Power of Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) Light as a Disinfectant

So What Is UV-C Light?

UV-A

UV-B

UV-C

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