LRC Evaluates Hybrid UV/Blue Light Lighting System

Approximately 1 in 25 patients contract healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in U.S. hospitals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Standard cleaning procedures usually involve manual application of detergents and disinfectants. The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is investigating alternate no-touch methods, including short-wavelength light, ranging from ultraviolet (UV) to blue light (200 nm to 410 nm). Short wavelengths can kill pathogens through a variety of pathways, depending upon the wavelength, the duration, and the amount.