Tori Whitacre Martonicz is the editor of 

.  She has been a writer and editor for over 30 years, and she has an MA and BA in English Composition/Literature from the University of Akron in Akron, OH. She lives in Ohio with her husband; son; 2 tiny dogs, Selena Brigid Sophia and Doctor Danger Dog; and a big black cat, Freya. She loves reading, writing, gardening, and spending time with her loved ones.

Even though the germicidal effects of ultraviolet light were first discovered in 1877, currently in the health care industry, a debate of the efficacy of ultraviolet-C light (UV-C) technology continues. Also, with some investigators publishing studies showing it is 

 and others not, the question comes down to which company’s technology works and what 

. Are the studies the companies are using their own, done by an independent research firm, or are the companies using competitors’ data? What generation of UV-C technology are the investigators using?

In the second of 2 segments of this exclusive 

) interview with Gunner Lyslo, founder and CEO of Surfacide, continues the discussion on where the industry is going and what questions for health care facilities, schools, businesses, and others should ask when they are looking for UVC technology to keep their employees and visitors safe.

, some individuals still are hesitant to consider UV-C technology. Lyslo pushes back and says that second generation technology (like Surfacide) demonstrates that the technology is effective.

“It's an incredibly important technology [and] disinfection modality. And if used in an evidence-based way, with the proper indications for use, it will have a tremendous impact to the 

 of all those end users and all those individuals who are entering those spaces. [This is true] whether it would be a hospital, which hospitals are still first and foremost to [Surfacide], because that's where you're dealing with an immunocompromised patient population, as well as you're dealing with an environmental services team are frontline health care workers who have numerous workplace stresses.”

The first part of the interview with Lyslo is 

Surface Disinfection

Video Series

Prevention

 prevention page contains news and information on the latest updates on all facets of infection prevention. From vaccinations and immunizations to controlling air and water flow in a health care system, preventing infections falls not only on the IP staff, but on all who interact within the hospital, from environmental services teams to those planning and building new construction.   

COVID-19

 COVID-19 page brings readers the latest information and clinical updates on the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, from case counts and hospitalization rates to data on effective treatments for severe disease and the circulating viral variants.  

HAIs

 health care-acquired infections (HAIs) page presents updates on the latest techniques and strategies in the never-ending battle between infection preventionists and HAIs. Focusing on the latest in medical literature, we also present perspectives from the top infection preventionists and other medical experts in the country about how to put the growing knowledge of HAIs into use in the everyday world of infection prevention. Articles and videos often focus on methods to contain and control pathogens and multidrug-resistant organisms from spreading within the health care system.

Environmental Services

 environmental services (EVS) page recognizes the team responsible for sanitation and cleaning within the health care system. EVS personnel are an integral component of infection prevention in the hospital, working closely together with the health care staff to ensure patient safety and hygiene standards. 

 keeps a close eye on developments in the environmental services industry and reports on any peer-reviewed literature. This page also features video interviews with EVS and the professionals who interact with them.

Advanced Technology

 advanced technology page allows readers to stay up-to-date on new technologies aimed at preventing infection, such as ultraviolet disinfection, real-time locating systems, foggers, sterilization robots, automation, virtual reality technology during hospital design, and more. Articles and videos focus on explaining the role of these various technologies within the health care system and how infection prevention professionals can integrate them into everyday use.

With the debate swirling around the efficacy and safety of UV-C technology, an individual needs which generation the product is. Infection Control Today® continues its ongoing special reporting on UV-C technology.

Ultraviolet C Light Technology Debate: Are First and Second Generation Equal?