Howard Wilkinson discusses the role of technology in infection prevention, from autonomous robots to hand hygiene compliance monitors.
Bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms mutate, multiply and invisibly spread. The coronavirus mutation, SARS-CoV-2, was unknown to mankind months ago before making history. The way pathogens operate will not change, but we can. Healthcareassociated infections have been a pervasive problem that health services around the world have been determined to tackle. With infectious threats finding new ways to contaminate patients, our systems have to evolve and get smarter.
The pandemic has demonstrated the importance and value of infection prevention and disinfection. During the first wave, hospitals went very tactical, focusing on the supply and roll-out of critical PPE. With mass vaccination efforts underway, and infection rates decreasing rapidly, the healthcare services can turn a new leaf and invest in new technologies and innovation to eradicate HCAIs.
To deliver the goal of preventing more than 1.7 million infections each year by 2030, state-of-the-art technologies – such as autonomous driving disinfection robots, automated room decontamination systems, and predictive analytics platforms could give healthcare services an edge, to not only anticipate the next pandemic, but achieve better operational efficiency and save lives.
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