Improving Patient Outcomes through Tracking and Displaying the Disinfection Status of Equipment and Area

Inhealthcare associated infectionsHAIswere reported in the United StatesDaily and terminal disinfection of hospital areas such as patient rooms are critically important to help prevent HAI and involve extensive disinfection of the room before a new patient is admitted to the roomAdditionallyportable medical equipmentPMEhas been implicated in outbreaks of HAIs and the importance of systematic disinfection of PME has been recognized and included in infection control guidelinesAlthough the Joint Commission requires documentation of disinfection of hospital areas and PMEthere is no systematic solution for tracking disinfection methodslocationpersonneland time date of disinfectionXenex proposes to beta test a disinfection tracking systemDTSbased on a patent application licensed from the VeteransandaposAffairsVADepartment and Phase I SBIR workwhich will have the following capabilitiesa display of disinfection statusRFID and sensors to manually or automatically detect a disinfection eventand cloud based software to analyze disinfection practicesAt the conclusion of the proposed projecta fully vetted beta device will have been create and field testedincluding studies on the impact of the DTS on microbial contamination as well as user feedback and human factors informationAt the completion of this projectwe expect to be ready to field test the final design at parter sites and then begin marketing the productThis project will involve systematic observation of disinfection events in an acute care setting with and without the DTS presentThe project team will consist of the same sites and PI coPIs as the Phase I SBIROur long term goal is to improve patient outcomes through reducing the risk of contaminated surfaces and PME through fully commercializing the DTS The project will further develop and validate a disinfection tracking system to help assure that areas and equipment in the hospital setting are properly and routinely disinfected in order to avoid potential transmission of pathogens to patients and healthcare workers through a contaminated patient care environmentThis project has a potential impact on patient outcomes through the prevention of hospital acquired infections as well as assisting with a burdensome documentation and tracking issue in healthcareFurthermorethe project will create innovation through the commercialization of intellectual property developed licensed from the VeteransAffairs Department