Ultraviolet lamp in hospitals, use: efficiency and application
29 Apr, 2024
By hqt
In this article, we will look at how UV lamps work in hospitals, their importance in maintaining a sterile environment in hospitals, and best practices for using these devices.
The principle of operation of an ultraviolet lamp in medical institutions
Ultraviolet (UV) lamps in medical institutions are used primarily to disinfect air and surfaces to prevent the spread of infections and create a safe environment for patients and medical personnel. The operating principle of an ultraviolet lamp in medical institutions is based on the bactericidal and viricidal action of UV radiation.
The main stages of operation of an ultraviolet lamp in medical institutions:
Ultraviolet Light Emission: A UV lamp produces ultraviolet light of a specific wavelength that has high energy. This light is usually in the ultraviolet A (UV-A), ultraviolet B (UV-B), or ultraviolet C (UV-C) range.
Air disinfection: UV lamps installed in ventilation systems or air purifiers irradiate the air passing through them. UV radiation destroys bacteria, viruses, fungi and other pathogens in the air, preventing their spread and reducing the risk of infection.
Surface disinfection: UV lamps can also be installed in rooms to disinfect surfaces such as operating rooms, wards, offices and treatment rooms. Surfaces are exposed to UV radiation, which destroys pathogens on them.
Installation and Maintenance: UV lamps are installed in strategic locations in healthcare facilities based on air flow and surface locations. They require regular maintenance and replacement as recommended by the manufacturers to ensure proper disinfection efficiency.
The operating principle of ultraviolet lamps in medical institutions is based on the use of bactericidal and viricidal action of UV radiation for effective disinfection of air and surfaces, which helps prevent the spread of infections and ensure safe conditions for patients and staff.
How Ultraviolet Light Destroys Microorganisms
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation destroys microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi by damaging their genetic material (DNA or RNA), which results in the loss of their vital functions and ability to reproduce. The process of destroying microorganisms by UV radiation occurs in several stages:
UV Absorption: When ultraviolet rays hit the surface of a microorganism, they are absorbed by its cell.
Formation of pyrimidine dimers in DNA: UV radiation causes the formation of pyrimidine dimers (especially thymine dimers) in the DNA or RNA of a microorganism. This occurs through the formation of covalent bonds between adjacent pyrimidine bases in the DNA or RNA chain.
Damage to genetic material: The formation of pyrimidine dimers disrupts the normal structure of the microorganism’s DNA or RNA. This prevents the correct copying and transcription of genetic information necessary for the microorganism’s survival and reproduction.
Loss of vital functions: Damage to the genetic material leads to disruption of metabolic processes and other vital functions of the microorganism. It loses the ability to divide and replicate, which ultimately leads to its death.
Ultraviolet radiation has bactericidal and viricidal properties, which makes it an effective means of disinfecting air, water and surfaces. Depending on the intensity of UV radiation and the time of irradiation, it is possible to achieve different degrees of disinfection, which allows using UV lamps for various purposes, from treating drinking water to disinfecting operating rooms in medical institutions.
Different Types of UV Lamps and Their Specifications
Ultraviolet (UV) lamps vary in type of radiation, wavelength, and intended use. Here are some of the main types of UV lamps and their specifications:
UV-A lamps:
Wavelength: from 315 to 400 nm.
Applications: lighting in specialized systems, paint drying, photoreactive processes.
Specifications: Typically used in applications where UV radiation is required for certain chemical reactions or imaging.
UV-B lamps:
Wavelength: from 280 to 315 nm.
Applications: medical procedures, treatment of skin diseases, industrial processes, studying the effects of UV radiation on living organisms.
Specifications: Typically used in specialized medical devices, therapy lamps, and in industry for certain processes.
UV-C lamps:
Wavelength: from 100 to 280 nm.
Application: disinfection of air, water and surfaces, sterilization of medical and laboratory instruments, disinfection of drinking water and swimming pools, use in ventilation and air conditioning systems.
Specifications: These lamps have the highest bactericidal and viricidal activity, since their wavelength most effectively destroys the DNA and RNA of microorganisms.
Low pressure and high pressure lamps:
Low pressure lamps (LPL) are typically compact in size and are used in home and commercial systems for general disinfection.
High pressure lamps (HPL) have high disinfection efficiency and are widely used in industry and medical institutions.
Specialized UV lamps:
There are many other specialized UV lamps, such as those for photopolymerization in dentistry, for creating light effects in entertainment events, and even for verifying the authenticity of documents and banknotes.
UV lamps can also vary in shape, power, energy consumption, and other technical characteristics, depending on their specific application and manufacturer. When choosing a UV lamp, it is important to consider not only its type and specifications, but also its compliance with the requirements of the specific application and safety standards.
Benefits of Using UV Lamps in Hospitals
The use of ultraviolet (UV) lamps in hospitals offers several benefits that significantly contribute to the safety of patients and staff, as well as help maintain cleanliness and hygiene in healthcare facilities. Here are some of them:
Air disinfection: UV lamps can be used in ventilation and air conditioning systems to disinfect indoor air. This helps reduce the number of microorganisms in the air and prevent the spread of airborne infections.
Surface disinfection: UV lamps can be installed in operating rooms, treatment rooms and other areas to disinfect surfaces after use. This helps kill pathogens that may remain on furniture, equipment and other surfaces after contact with patients.
Bactericidal and virucidal action: UV radiation has bactericidal and virucidal properties, which makes it an effective means of destroying bacteria, viruses, fungi and other pathogenic microorganisms. This is especially important in hospitals, where the risk of infection is high.
Infection Prevention: Effective disinfection of rooms and equipment using UV lamps helps prevent the spread of infections among patients, visitors and medical staff. This is especially important in sterile areas such as operating rooms and intensive care units.
Reduced Disinfection Time: Using UV lamps can significantly reduce the time it takes to disinfect rooms and equipment in hospitals. Unlike chemical disinfectants, UV radiation works quickly and does not require a long drying time.
These benefits make UV lamps an important component of infection control systems in healthcare facilities, helping to ensure a safe environment for patients and staff and reduce the risk of infection.
Reducing the spread of hospital infections
Reducing the spread of hospital infections is one of the important aspects of using ultraviolet (UV) lamps in hospitals. Here is how UV lamps help in this:
Air disinfection: UV lamps can be installed in ventilation and air conditioning systems to disinfect indoor air. This helps to destroy pathogens that can be transmitted through the air and lead to the spread of infections.
Surface disinfection: UV lamps can be installed in operating rooms, treatment rooms and other areas to disinfect surfaces after use. This is important to kill pathogens that may remain on furniture, equipment and other surfaces after contact with infected patients.
Inactivation of viruses and bacteria: UV radiation has bactericidal and virucidal properties, which makes it effective in killing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. This helps reduce the number of infections transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces and air.
Preventing Personnel Infection: Effective disinfection of rooms and equipment using UV lamps helps prevent infection of medical personnel and other hospital workers, which can be especially important in high-risk environments.
Fast and effective disinfection: UV radiation works quickly and effectively, allowing disinfection of premises and equipment in hospitals without delays and with minimal disruption to the work process.
These measures help create a safe environment in hospitals, reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections and improving the overall quality of healthcare.
Examples of successful use of UV lamps in various hospital departments
Ultraviolet (UV) lamps are successfully used in various hospital departments to disinfect air, surfaces and equipment. Here are some examples of their successful use:
Operating rooms: UV lamps are installed in operating rooms to disinfect air and surfaces before and after surgical procedures. This helps prevent infection of patients and hospital staff after surgery.
Intensive Care Units: In intensive care units where patients are at high risk of infection, ultraviolet lamp is installed in hospitals to disinfect air and surfaces to reduce the risk of infection and provide safe treatment conditions.
Wards and infectious disease wards: In hospital wards, including infectious disease wards where the risk of infection transmission is high, UV lamps are used to disinfect air and surfaces to prevent the spread of infections among patients and staff.
Treatment rooms: In treatment rooms where various medical procedures are performed, a UV lamp is installed in hospitals to disinfect equipment and surfaces between procedures to prevent infection of patients.
Laboratories: In laboratories where biological material is tested and analyzed, ultraviolet lamps are used to disinfect work surfaces and equipment to prevent contamination and maintain the purity of samples.
Intensive care units: UV lamps are installed in intensive care units to disinfect equipment and surfaces, helping to prevent the spread of infections among critically ill patients.
These examples demonstrate the successful use of ultraviolet lamps in hospitals in various hospital departments. To ensure the safety of patients and staff and reduce the risk of contracting hospital infections.
