O'Connor Hospital Acquires Superbug-Slaying Robot TRU-D to Provide Extra Level of Care

O'Connor Hospital is the first hospital in the Bay Area to deploy TRU-D SmartUVC, a pathogen-eliminating robot that uses powerful ultraviolet light to kill harmful viruses, bacteria and fungi that are responsible for healthcare-associated infections.

Short for Total Room Ultraviolet Disinfection, TRU-D "finishes the job" after a hospital staff member completes traditional disinfection routines, reducing the risk of HAIs. The remotely operated robot works by generating UV light energy that modifies the DNA structure of an infectious cell so that it cannot reproduce, and a cell that cannot reproduce cannot colonize and harm patients.

"The acquisition of this technology is simply another way that we're working to protect the integrity of our health care environment, and ultimately, safeguard the well-being of every single patient who walks through our doors," says Suzanne Cistulli, RN, CIC, director of infection prevention and control at O'Connor Hospital.

The technology allows O'Connor Hospital to confidently clean its patient environments, including ICUs, patient rooms, surgery suites, emergency rooms and public areas. In addition to influenza and norovirus, the robot's microscopic foes include Clostridium difficile (C. diff), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other pathogens.

"Studies have shown that traditional disinfection methods are only 50 percent effective, leaving pathogens behind to lurk. TRU-D eliminates the possibility of human error and makes O'Connor Hospital safer for patients and employees," says Cistulli. "TRU-D can achieve 99.99 percent disinfection of all viruses and bacteria. It takes the guesswork out of previous protocols and ensures confidence in clinicians and patients alike. This technology will prove to be an important added line of defense to protect the integrity of our environment and ensure enhanced patient outcomes."

A study published by the Journal of Medical Economics estimates that HAIs may cost both hospitals and patients a combined amount of up to $147 billion annually.

"TRU-D is the only proven UV disinfection robot on the market available to hospitals to combat existing HAIs and prevent new cases from developing and spreading," says Chuck Dunn, president of Lumalier Corporation, manufacturer of TRU-D. "Investing in TRU-D's technology not only reduces the risk of infection for patients and healthcare workers, but also, reduces the exorbitant costs of HAIs to patients and healthcare facilities."

TRU-D SmartUVC, is the device of choice for nearly all existing independent research on UV disinfection technology, including an ongoing $2 million study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Epicenter Program study at Duke University and the University of North Carolina. TRU-D now comes equipped with iTRU-D, a cloud-based usage tracking program that provides custom reports via an iPad Mini to hospital staff. More than 100 TRU-Ds have been deployed to disinfect hospitals across the U.S., Canada and Europe, including the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, S.C., and Houston Methodist in Houston, Texas.

Source: Lumalier Corporation