Shedding Light: The Ability to Prevent Site Infections with LED Technology
Hospitals have unique and specific design requirements that promote safe and clean environments for the facility's patients and staff. Designing the systems to prevent site infections is a critical part of hospital design.
Operating rooms and exam rooms require special cleaning to maintain a sterile environment. Certain lighting units utilize LED technology in both the visible and non-visible spectrum. This means that a single lighting unit could provide functional light for the user and provide the bacteria killer light, which provides continuous disinfection. The non-visible spectrum used for the disinfection is just outside the ultraviolet light spectrum at 405 nanometers. This allows the light fixture to be used while patients and staff are present.
Under normal use, the light appears “white” and matches other light sources in the area.
When the disinfection light is turned on, the light appears blue in color.
During this time, the wavelength of the light causes porphyrins to produce intra-cellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which acts similar to bleach. The lights, under continuous use, have been clinically proven to reduce 70% of the bioburden, the number of bacteria living on a surface that has not been sterilized, found in these clinical spaces.
LED lighting technology has had a profound effect on the way we design medical spaces and the way the end-user utilizes them. With LED technology, medical facilities now have the capability for advanced disinfection techniques to prevent site infections and continue to keep their patients and staff safe.
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