New technology developed at the University of Strathclyde that uses visible light to combat hospital-acquired infections is undergoing major hospital trials.
Researchers at Strathclyde's pioneering ROLEST laboratory believe the High Intensity Narrow Spectrum Light (HINS-light) technology could greatly enhance the decontamination of hospitals and other clinical environments.
The technology uses a narrow spectrum of visible-light wavelengths to excite molecules contained within bacteria such as MRSA which, in turn, produce highly reactive chemical species that are lethal to bacteria.
The HINS-light Environmental Decontamination System that has been developed using the technology employs low illuminance lighting to bathe the air and all exposed surfaces and items, continuously decontaminating the hospital environment.
Clinical evaluation is currently underway, supported by £440k funding from the Scottish Enterprise Proof of Concept Programme.
The technology was discovered and developed by bringing together multidisciplinary expertise from across Strathclyde. The team involves Professor Scott MacGregor (Electrical Engineer), Professor John Anderson and Dr Michelle Maclean (Microbiologists) and Professor Gerry Woolsey (Optical Physicist).
Professor MacGregor, (pictured top right), Head of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, said: "New approaches to disinfection and sterilisation are urgently needed within the clinical environment, as traditional methods have significant limitations.
"Decontamination methods involving gas sterilants or UV-light can be hazardous to staff and patients, while cleaning, disinfection and hand washing, although essential routine procedures, have limited effectiveness and compliance problems.
"HINS-light is a safe treatment that can be easily automated to provide continuous disinfection of wards and other areas of the clinical environment. The pervasive nature of light permits the treatment of air and all visible surfaces, regardless of accessibility, either through direct or reflected exposure to HINS -light within the treated environment".
