High Intensity Narrow Spectrum Light for Continuous Environmental Disinfection

Researchers at the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow, Scotland, have developed a new lighting system that continuously disinfects hospital rooms. They used high intensity narrow spectrum (HINS) light, that consists of a narrow spectrum of visible-light wavelengths, to decontaminate air and surfaces. The light is bactericidal but harmless to humans, and can be used alongside normal hospital lightning. Initial tests show that the use of HINS-light can reduce surface bacterial levels by 90% in an unoccupied room and by 56 to 86% when the room was occupied by an MRSA-infected burn patient. Impressively, these results were better than those achieved by normal infection control and cleaning activities alone. Results were published in the November edition of Journal of Hospital Infection.
Press release: Light technology to combat hospital infections…
Article abstract: Environmental decontamination of a hospital isolation room using high-intensity narrow-spectrum light…