St. Luke's Hospital takes steps to reduce airborne infections

St. Luke's Hospital at the Vintage (SLHV) is focused on becoming the first hospital to convert air currently meeting code standards into better quality by using advanced oxidation technology.

In the United States, hospital-acquired infections cause 20,000 to 80,000 deaths and cost an estimated $4 billion annually. Sources indicate approximately 10 to 15 percent of infections are from airborne pathogen transmission.

Many believe installing regular HVAC systems per requirements will result in sterile air, but this is not always the case. Various particles can be less than four nanometers in size and are able to be recirculated in an indoor space without being caught in the filters.

SLHV installed the Trane Catalytic Air Cleaning System, developed by Genesis Air. This system uses photocatalytic oxidation to kill bacteria cells, mold spores and viruses.

By installing this oxidation technology, the hospital is able to target the prevention of airborne infections in areas with the greatest risk of infection, including the emergency department, operating rooms and C-section suites.

For more information, call 832-534-5993.