Controlling the transmission of infectious diseases is critical in the healthcare environment. One in thirty-one patients in a hospital setting contracts a hospital-associated infection (HAI), totaling more than one million cases annually. This results in nearly 100,000 patient deaths, which costs hospitals $28 billion annually.
According to recent data from The Leapfrog Group, HAIs have increased by up to 60 percent since the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting patient experience scores to plummet, which can negatively impact providers’ revenue potential and erode patients’ healthcare outcomes.
Hospitals and other healthcare providers, already reeling from the pandemic, are operating with profound budget restrictions, staffing shortages, and other challenges that make it difficult to address this pressing problem.
As decision-makers try to maximize their care offerings without breaking their budgets or overwhelming their teams, many look to leverage automated disinfection options, including UV and fogging solutions. Choosing the right disinfection method can help you maintain a healthy hospital environment and ensure patient safety.
Understanding UV & Fogging Solutions
Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and fogging are two widely used methods for eliminating harmful pathogens in hospital settings. UV disinfection employs UV-C light to damage microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, rendering them incapable of reproducing.
The effectiveness of UV disinfection largely depends on the light’s line of sight, exposure time, and distance from the target pathogen. The method is labor-intensive as the UV light source often requires repositioning for full room coverage. It is also limited by the “shadowing” effect, where objects in the room can block the UV light, creating areas untouched by the disinfection process.
On the other hand, fogging disperses disinfectant into the air as fine droplets, enabling the disinfectant to settle on surfaces, including hard-to-reach areas. Solutions like Nevoa utilize ultra-fine Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) atomization or fogging technology to ensure 100 percent room surface and air contact.
Unlike UV disinfection, fogging technology is automated and hands-free, requiring no monitoring or repositioning, thus eliminating the risk of pathogen transfer due to human error. It also removes the issue of shadowing to ensure complete room disinfection.
The Fogging Advantage
Fogging offers several advantages over UV light. By understanding the benefits of fogging, decision-makers are best prepared to identify the solution that will make the greatest difference in their specific hospital setting.
#1 Efficiency
Fogging increases disinfection efficiency through its ultra-fine atomization process that covers all surfaces, including hard-to-reach areas to ensure thorough room disinfection. Automated, hands-free solutions like Nevoa eliminate labor-intensive tasks and reduce human error, further improving efficiency.
Additionally, fogging with hydrochlorous acid (HOCl) allows for immediate room re-entry, reducing downtime and allowing healthcare providers to most efficiently use their spaces to maximize patient treatment opportunities.
#2 Productivity
Fogging solutions increase hospital team productivity by providing a hands-free disinfection solution, so staff doesn’t need to monitor or reposition equipment, freeing them up for other tasks. For example, Nevoa’s Nimbus solution disinfects treatment rooms in 30 minutes, allowing cleaning teams to “leave it and forget it,” trusting that it’s performing its job while they manage other responsibilities.
For disinfecting between surgical procedures, Nevoa’s hand-held Stratus Fogger offers a convenient solution powered by Microburst, our proprietary hypochlorous acid (HOCI) solution. The compact, lightweight fogger requires just a two-minute application time, killing common SSIs in just one minute. This makes it ideal for between-case disinfection, which is not possible — or practical — with UV.
Critically, the comprehensive coverage provided by fogging, even in hard-to-reach areas, reduces the need for manual cleaning and re-cleaning.
#3 Cost
Fogging technology offers substantial cost benefits for hospitals. For starters, automation reduces the labor costs associated with manual disinfection methods that require constant monitoring or equipment repositioning. It’s also more cost effective than using wipes alone from an efficiency standpoint.
Moreover, the comprehensive coverage achieved by fogging reduces the need for repeat disinfection, saving time and resources. Perhaps most importantly, by more effectively disinfecting treatment rooms, hospitals can reduce the number of HAIs and SSIs, which reduces costs while simultaneously improving patient care.
#4 Effectiveness
Fogging technology enhances the effectiveness of disinfection procedures in hospitals. The ultra-fine atomization process of fogging ensures 100 percent room surface and air contact, offering a level of coverage that traditional disinfection methods, like UV, may not provide due to shadowing effects.
This comprehensive coverage is critical to eliminate pathogens and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Automated solutions like Nevoa provide an additional layer of effectiveness by minimizing human error and preventing pathogen transfer that can occur with manual disinfection methods.
An independent analysis found that the Nevoa fogging system is substantially more effective than the UVC disinfection method. In the study, Nevoa killed 99.99998% of S. aureus bacteria, compared to UVC’s 90.45% reduction. Nevoa’s effectiveness was consistently high across all test areas, which wasn’t the case with UVC.
Nevoa also met the EPA’s disinfection standard of 99.99% bacteria reduction, while UVC did not. And unlike UVC, Nevoa can disinfect hard-to-reach or shadowed areas more efficiently, making it a superior choice for comprehensive disinfection.
#5 Certification
Fogging technology’s certification ensures its effectiveness and safety in hospital settings. When a fogging solution like Nevoa carries recognized certification or registration from a regulatory body, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it signifies that the product has met stringent standards for safety and efficacy.
Following EPA guidelines and standardized testing procedures, the automated Nimbus device and the Nevoa Microburst Solution have been proven by independent laboratories to be highly effective in killing various pathogens, including those known to cause HAIs. Independent laboratories have conducted rigorous testing to provide the necessary validation studies for EPA registration.
Fogging For a Safer Healthcare Environment
Choosing the right disinfection method in hospital environments has never been more critical. While UV disinfection and fogging have their merits, fogging technology offers the most compelling benefits, providing improved efficiency, heightened productivity for hospital teams, substantial cost benefits, more effective pathogen elimination, and the assurance of recognized certification.
Nevoa’s fogging technology is specifically designed to address the challenges hospitals face today, including budget constraints, staffing shortages, and increased demand for effective disinfection. Nevoa offers an advanced, reliable solution for hospital disinfection by automating the disinfection process and ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Don’t just take our word for it. Experience the benefits firsthand. Contact us today to participate in our low-cost, risk-free pilot program. With no long-term commitment required, this program makes it simple for you to experience the fogging technology’s efficiency and effectiveness in your hospital setting.