UV light sterilization has slowly grown to become one of the fastest-growing and invaluable methods used to curb the spread of hospital-acquired infections.
Even though it is a widely used sterilization method, many people still do not understand how UV sterilization works. If you run a facility that required regular sterilization, you can benefit from the use of UV sterilization in many ways.
UV lighting technologies method of sterilization ensures your facility is a sanitary place of work. If you are new to UV sterilization, here is everything you need to know.
Why should you use UV sterilization?
While modern technology makes it possible to use UV rays for sterilization effectively, the method has been used since the late 1800s. When it was first discovered, further studies were conducted to ascertain what makes it ideal for cleaning infectious surfaces. From the 20th century, UV sterilization has been used as a reliable method of disinfecting surfaces.
UV lighting is a short wavelength with the ability to penetrate the bodies of viruses and bacteria. This causes it to destroy even the most resistant types of viruses and bacteria. The use of ultraviolet germicide radiation or ultraviolet sterilization is one of the most effective methods of killing germs and bacteria. UV sterilization sources can kill up to 99% of bacteria, viruses, and germs of surfaces within a short time.
The effectiveness of UV sterilization has led to the development of different UV treatments and devices. It is important to take your time when choosing UV sterilization devices to ensure you find the best one for your needs.
Where is UV sterilization used?
Even though UV sterilization can be utilized as a supplementary infection control measure for most environments like disinfecting work surfaces and water, it is efficient enough to be used in other spaces.
Hospital constructions and renovation are some of the areas UV sterilization devices are used. This helps hospitals to control the spread of pathogenic organisms in different parts of healthcare facilities. This is a key factor in the control of hospital-acquired infections. UV sterilization makes it possible to reach disinfection standards that can be hard to achieve with chemical-based methods.
Besides sterilizing water and surfaces, you can also use UV sterilization as a disinfecting method for other areas. It is possible to use UV sterilization to purify air in isolation areas, which can benefit a healthcare facility. This is done by installing UV lighting on the ceilings of rooms and other areas that require sterilization. This improves the air quality and effectiveness of the method.
You can also use UV sterilization to disinfect workspaces. As a dry sterilization method, UV lighting does not leave behind wet residue, limiting the growth of molds and bacteria on surfaces. This makes it the best method if you want to ensure complete disinfection of instruments and equipment. UV sterilization is the best option if you are looking to improve cleaning consistency and disinfecting while removing the margin of error common with human cleaning.
Because of the versatility of UV disinfection, you can determine the best UV device for your needs depending on the type of environment you want to use the method in. it is possible to use one UV disinfection device to clean different areas, which can help to save on the cost of installation.
Which is the best UV light?
Most UV lighting sterilization methods make use of UV-C light power source as it has been found to be one of the most effective types of UV light for sterilization. Even with its effectiveness, UV-C can harm the human skin, and thus proper caution is called for when using it.
For a friendlier UV lighting radiation solution, Far-UV sterility can be used. It uses a different wavelength in the UV spectrum to ensure it delivers the same sterilization benefit without posing a threat to humans and some materials. This type of UV is also faster, which makes it more efficient.