INF ECTION P R EVENTION
Automated technology for infection prevention
Howard Wilkinson discusses the role of technology in infection prevention, from autonomous robots to hand hygiene compliance monitors.
Bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms mutate, multiply and invisibly spread. The coronavirus mutation, SARS-CoV-2, was unknown to mankind months ago before making history. The way pathogens operate will not change, but we can. Healthcare- associated infections have been a pervasive problem that health services around the world have been determined to tackle. With infectious threats finding new ways to contaminate patients, our systems have to evolve and get smarter.
The pandemic has demonstrated the
importance and value of infection prevention and disinfection. During the first wave, hospitals went very tactical, focusing on the supply and roll-out of critical PPE. With mass vaccination efforts underway, and infection rates decreasing rapidly, the healthcare services can turn a new leaf and invest in new technologies and innovation to eradicate HCAIs. To deliver the goal of preventing more than 1.7 million infections each year by 2030, state-of-the-art technologies – such as autonomous driving disinfection robots, automated room decontamination systems, and predictive analytics platforms could give healthcare services an edge, to not only anticipate the next pandemic, but achieve
better operational efficiency and save lives. The pandemic has brought an acute focus and adoption of infection prevention practices. Hygiene needs to be more visible; hands need to be cleaned more diligently and disinfection solutions must be available at every corner. Increased measures were necessary not only to protect patients but also staff. Healthcare workers have experienced high rates of hospital-acquired COVID-19 infection and, in some cases, transmitted it to patients.1
infrastructure and infection prevention culture to protect the healthcare staff and patients.
NHS data revealed
that up to 20% of people in hospital with COVID-19 acquired the disease during their stay.2 Years of training had prepared healthcare workers for this moment. However, when it came to facing a pandemic, further investment was needed to improve the
Preventive measures, coupled with innovative programmes, can drive quick results. Technology does not only help with cleaning and disinfection, but it also enables consistency and tracking.
MAY 2021
In response to COVID-19, The European Union launched a new health bill named EU4Health, aiming to inject €5.1 billion in its healthcare preparedness, innovation, resilience, and digital capabilities.3 After months of fighting a single virus, governments have been sending a clear message to urgently boost and expand healthcare services capabilities to better face new arising threats, such antimicrobial- resistant infections. To support the collective public health
effort to eradicate HCAIs, Ecolab has invested to build a hygiene research and development centre in Europe. The 2,000-square-metre facility integrates dedicated labs for chemistry formulation, microbiology, analytical chemistry and virology.
Equipped with the latest technology, the centre aims to develop hygiene and infection prevention solutions to fight infections in a healthcare setting and has the capability to demonstrate the effectiveness of solutions on all types of bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeasts and other emerging microorganisms that
WWW.CLINICALSERVICESJOURNAL.COM l 41
▲
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
