HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Regional Medical Center (HRMC) was mentioned by Becker’s Medical Review as one of 331 hospitals nationwide and one of eight in Kansas for achieving a zero-infection rate for Clostridioides (klos-TRID-e-OY-dees) C, a life-threatening bacterium that causes an infection in the large intestine. And the designation is related to a piece of equipment the hospital has been using for the past three years to combat such infections.
The hospital is using Ultraviolet technology to kill possible bacteria that can cause Clostridioides and other similar infections.
“In 2019, Hutchinson Regional implemented Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology in an effort to curtail hospital-associated infections. The portable UV device can easily be moved into patient rooms, surgical suites, ICU, bathrooms and other critical areas that require disinfection,” Kelene Youngs CIC Infections Prevention RN at HRMC. “Some pathogens are multidrug resistant, most of which can be destroyed with the use of UV technology. We feel this new technology is a contributing factor to achieving a zero-infection rate for C diff.”
Clostridioides C is a bacterium that causes an infection of the large intestine that spreads easily when an infected person touches food, surfaces, or objects that are contaminated with feces from a person who is infected. Approximately 500,000 Americans are afflicted with Clostridioides each year and for nearly 30,000 the infection is fatal.
“Deployment of UV technology and increased safety training and awareness are producing positive results that exceed our greatest expectations,” HRMC President Ken Johnson said. “Our long -term goal remains to maintain a zero-tolerance policy for all infections and the recent CDC designation is affirmation we are approaching that level of excellence.”