Project Lead(s): Cheng Lu
Issue
Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) are the most common complication of hospital care.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports hundreds of millions of patients are affected by HAIs worldwide, leading to significant mortality and financial losses for the health system.
Solution
The project team developed and tested the feasibility of using visible light photocatalysts for hospital-acquired infection prevention and control.
The product that was developed is solution based, similar to disinfectant agents commonly used in the hospital.
Outcome
The project team demonstrated that the nano material they developed was able to prohibit bacterial growth by 99% using hospital lighting sources.
This protective effect lasted for more than two days without reapplication and should be effective for seven days, or even longer, as long as the coating is unremoved by scratching or touch.
Many of the components used are bio-compatible and have a long history of use in the pharmaceutical industry.
This knowledge has been disseminated through various journals.