I’m going into the hospital for surgery next month, and I’m frankly terrified about picking up an infection while I’m there. I’ve heard that there is a machine available to hospitals that does a great job of eliminating germs, and I’d like to see if my hospital uses one. Do you know what I’m talking about?

Yes. It’s a portable “robot” made by Xenex Healthcare that releases 120 pulses of ultraviolet (UV) light each minute. Reflectors enable the light to be focused on areas that hands frequently touch, such as door handles and light switches. A motion detector turns off the machine if someone enters the room while it’s in operation.

Treatment runs for 10 to 20 minutes and is highly effective. The UV rays pass through the outer wall of a bacterium, damaging its DNA and destroying its ability to mutate or reproduce. Voilà! Problem solved.

Each machine costs about $80,000, and a large hospital would need two to keep the rooms sterilized on a routine basis. According to Singularity Hub, which reported on the disinfection machine, treatment for a single case of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus—a common infection in hospitals) costs about $28,000. The machines would pay for themselves in no time simply in the money saved on prevented cases of infection.

If someone you love has been injured or has died resulting from a surgical procedure, contact the medical malpractice attorneys in Kentucky at Gray and White Law. Call us at 502-210-8942 or toll free at 888-450-4456 to set up a FREE, no-obligation consultation.