Urban LTAC Hospital

Utilization and impact of a pulsed-xenon ultraviolet room disinfection system and multidisciplinary care team onClostridium difficile in a long-term acute care facility

Renee Miller, RN, MSN, Sarah Simmons, BS, MPH, DrPH, Charles Dale, BA, Mark Stibich, MHA, PhD, Julie Stachowiak, MIA, PhD

Abstract
Health care–associated transmission of Clostridium difficile has been well documented in long-term acute care facilities. This article reports on 2 interventions aimed at reducing the transmission risk: multidisciplinary care teams and no-touch pulsed-xenon disinfection. C difficile transmission rates were tracked over a 39-month period while these 2 interventions were implemented. After a baseline period of 1 year, multidisciplinary teams were implemented for an additional 1-year period with a focus on reducing C difficile infection. During this time, transmission rates dropped 17% (P = .91). In the following 15-month period, the multidisciplinary teams continued, and pulsed-xenon disinfection was added as an adjunct to manual cleaning of patient rooms and common areas. During this time, transmission rates dropped 57% (P = .02). These results indicate that the combined use of multidisciplinary teams and pulsed-xenon disinfection can have a significant impact on C difficile transmission rates in long-term care facilities.