First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 01 May 2024 |

Reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a pressing issue within global healthcare systems. In the United States alone, 1.7 million patients contract HAIs annually, leading to approximately 99,000 deaths each year. Pathogens on surfaces can survive for days to months, and studies indicate that 50% of surfaces in healthcare settings are not adequately disinfected during manual cleaning processes. The financial burden of HAIs on the U.S. healthcare system is estimated to be between USD 28 billion to USD 33 billion annually. Now, the results of an in-hospital disinfection study involving the use of novel handheld Filtered Far UV-C devices have demonstrated their effectiveness in quickly reducing HAI-causing pathogens on high-touch clinical surfaces, addressing a significant challenge in hospital settings where traditional manual disinfection methods often fall short.
The research, conducted at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA), utilized handheld Filtered Far UV-C devices provided by Freestyle Partners (Detroit, MI, USA). The study showed a significant reduction in surface pathogens that cause HAIs within the clinical areas of hematologic malignancy and stem cell units. Filtered Far UV-C, a safe form of disinfection technology, uses invisible germicidal light that kills viruses, bacteria, spores, and fungi almost instantly, eliminating the need for the 2–10-minute dwell times required by chemical disinfectants. These devices offer a no-touch disinfection solution, particularly advantageous where manual cleaning is not feasible. This study further confirms the efficacy and speed of these devices in reducing dangerous pathogens on high-touch surfaces, thanks to their patented technology that ensures proper usage and achieves desired disinfection results.
“This study provides further real-world data on the efficacy of handheld Filtered Far UV-C devices to reduce surface pathogens which we hope could ultimately improve patient care and tackle the tremendous expenses healthcare institutions face in fighting HAIs,” said Jennifer Rosen, co-founder of Freestyle Partners, LLC.
Related Links:
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Freestyle Partners
Latest Patient Care News
- AI Avatar Doctor Improves Patient Understanding Before Radiotherapy
- Wearable Sleep Data Predict Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Revolutionary Automatic IV-Line Flushing Device to Enhance Infusion Care
- VR Training Tool Combats Contamination of Portable Medical Equipment
- Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
- Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

- Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput
- Next Gen ICU Bed to Help Address Complex Critical Care Needs
- Groundbreaking AI-Powered UV-C Disinfection Technology Redefines Infection Control Landscape
- Clean Hospitals Can Reduce Antibiotic Resistance, Save Lives
- Smart Hospital Beds Improve Accuracy of Medical Diagnosis
- New Fast Endoscope Drying System Improves Productivity and Traceability
- World’s First Automated Endoscope Cleaner Fights Antimicrobial Resistance
- Portable High-Capacity Digital Stretcher Scales Provide Precision Weighing for Patients in ER
- Portable Clinical Scale with Remote Indicator Allows for Flexible Patient Weighing Use
- Innovative and Highly Customizable Medical Carts Offer Unlimited Configuration Possibilities
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
AI Tool Predicts Unplanned Care and Symptom Burden in Cancer Survivors
Unplanned emergency visits and hospitalizations remain common in cancer survivorship, when routine clinical contact often tapers while new symptoms emerge. These events reflect unmet needs and disrupt... Read more
Automated Phone Speech Test Identifies Alzheimer’s Pathology for Prescreening
Alzheimer’s disease assessment and trial recruitment often rely on costly, invasive biomarker testing and clinic-based cognitive evaluations, limiting scalability as populations age. Providers and trial... Read moreCritical Care
view channel
Ring-Type Cuffless Monitor Becomes First Added to Official Hypertension Guidelines
Detecting nocturnal and morning hypertension often requires out-of-office assessment, but conventional cuff-type monitors can disrupt sleep. New national guidance in South Korea expands 24-hour monitoring... Read more
“Intelligent Tattoo” Method Detects Early Melanoma Signals
Melanoma is a lethal skin cancer in which earlier detection drives better outcomes. Current evaluation relies on visual inspection followed by biopsy, which can miss nascent lesions and lead to unnecessary... Read more
Reusable Intermittent Catheters Reduce Antibiotic Use Without Increasing Urinary Tract Infections
Intermittent self-catheterization, used to empty the bladder several times a day, can leave patients vulnerable to recurrent urinary tract infections and repeated antibiotic use. Reliance on single-use... Read moreSurgical Techniques
view channel
Fracture Plating System Combines Anatomical Fit with Streamlined Instrumentation
Fracture management involves diverse anatomies and injury patterns that can make plate fit and fixation strategy challenging. Surgeons need both intraoperative efficiency and flexibility, while hospitals... Read more
Pink Noise Stimulation Approach Could Support Safer Anesthesia
Maintaining stable unconsciousness during general anesthesia while minimizing drug exposure remains a core perioperative challenge. Sudden nociceptive surges can disrupt anesthetic depth, increasing neurological... Read moreHealth IT
view channel
AI-Native EHR Achieves EU Medical Device Certification
InterSystems (Boston, MA, USA) announced that its IntelliCare electronic health record (EHR) solutions have been certified as Class IIa medical devices under the European Union Medical Device Regulation... Read more
EHR-Integrated Screening Workflow Detects Cognitive Impairment at Admission
Cognitive impairment involves difficulties with thinking, learning, memory, and decision-making, and is more common in older adults. In U.S. hospitals, more than 40% of admitted older adults have dementia,... Read morePoint of Care
view channel
Portable MRI System Accelerates Emergency Brain Imaging and Triage
Emergency departments frequently face delays accessing conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patients with suspected neurological emergencies. Such waits can slow triage, prolong boarding,... Read more







