International Ultraviolet Association Sponsors Workshop on Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) in Dulles, Virginia

WASHINGTON, DC, April 17, 2014 (Press-News.org) The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) will host a Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) Workshop on April 24, 2014 at the Aerobiology Laboratory Associates Inc., 43760 Trade Center Pl. in Dulles, Virginia, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Multiple perspectives about UV technology and devices designed to disinfect air and surface pathogens in healthcare facilities will be presented. Registration is open and available online.

HAIs are infections that develop as result of medical care. The infection may occur in a hospital, outpatient surgery center, nursing care facility, rehabilitation facility or while receiving wound care. In order to develop an infection while receiving these services, bacteria must enter your body. This can happen in many ways: through a wound, a device such as a catheter, or even by way of the lungs.

UV applications have been used in hospital and healthcare settings for many years to decontaminate rooms of contagions such as bacteria that cause tuberculosis. Today, UV devices are being effectively implemented to decontaminate surface and air of new and emerging pathogens, many which are impervious to antibiotics. UV disinfection can be cost effective and easy to maintain, making the healthcare environment safer for patients, staff and visitors.

Workshops will include presentations by healthcare professionals and industry leaders who make UV technology specifically for disinfection of healthcare facilities. Highlights of the full day workshop will include: a presentation by Susan D. Moeslein, RN, MSA, CIC, Infection Prevention Nurse Manager from Riverside Regional Medical Center, who will discuss 'Tales from the Trenches: How Our Facility Implemented and Evaluated UV Technology to Reduce MDROs and Cdiff." George J. Lichtblau, Chairman and CEO of Spectra254 will speak about "Methods of Generating UVC Used to Kill Pathogens in Hospitals" and Peter Gordon, Managing Partner of Germgard Lighting LLC will talk about "Hand Disinfection Using UVC."

At the end of the day, Suzanne S. Blevins, B.S., SM(ASCP), Principal/Lab Director for Aerobiology Laboratory Associates, Inc. will speak on the topic of "Test Bed Opportunities."

Register online for the Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) Workshop.

IUVA's mission is to advance the science, engineering and applications of ultraviolet technologies to enhance the quality of human life and to protect the environment. Founded in 1999, it is a 501(c)3 educational association of more than 500 members in 35 countries. Visit http://www.iuva.org.

Deborah Martinez is the Executive Director of the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) in Washington, D.C. She provides leadership, strategic guidance and management for the daily operations of IUVA. The International Ultraviolet Association brings together scholars, scientists, industry and government leaders to keep interested individuals up-to-date in the latest UV Water disinfection technology. Visit http://www.iuva.org.