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Recent global events have put disinfection protocols in the spotlight. There are enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols too – but what are they? Here is what you need to know.
Cleaning and Disinfection: A Review
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged caretakers of indoor environments and their approach to cleaning and disinfection - with updated procedures for both of these processes.
To review, cleaning is the process of using soap, water, and detergent to remove dirt and other contaminants from surfaces and visibly soiled materials. Disinfection is the process of reducing or eliminating the remaining contaminants (namely microorganisms) from these materials after cleaning.
Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection Protocols
Enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols are additional steps taken to ensure proper levels of disinfection are achieved in light of the presence of specific contaminants. These protocols may include:
- Closing off likely contaminated areas to public use,
- Isolating contaminated areas for specific durations,
- Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when cleaning such areas, and
- Changing air ventilation dynamics, such as opening windows or vents.
Enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols are safety measures that are intended to ensure contact with contaminated areas is minimized.
UVD Robots for UV Disinfection
UVD Robots are a series of mobile Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection robots that can operate autonomously or with minimal interaction via a control tablet. Once the robot’s environments have been mapped, it can navigate through rooms and apply UV light for disinfection.
These UVD Robots use the highly effective 254 nanometer (nm) Ultraviolet C (UV-C) light to inactivate microorganisms commonly found in indoor environments, including:
- Staphylococcus aureus,1
- Clostridioides difficile spores, and
- Candida spp.2
These robots can inactivate these microorganisms at 3-log to 7-log efficacy rates representing reduction rates of 99.9% to 99.99999%.3
UVD Robots assist in well-established cleaning and disinfection processes. When incorporated into enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols, UVD Robots can make for an effective technology that takes environmental disinfection to higher levels.