CANBERRA, July 29 (Xinhua) — Ultraviolet C (UVC) light technology can substantially lower respiratory infections among elderly care facility residents, an Australian study revealed on Tuesday.
Researchers installed germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) devices in South Australian aged care homes to purify air by emitting UVC rays that deactivate viruses and bacteria, according to a statement released by South Australia’s Flinders University.
The randomized trial in four aged care facilities showed that using commercial GUV devices cut viral respiratory infections by 12.2 percent, about 0.3 fewer cases weekly, said the study detailed in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, published by the American Medical Association.
“Some of the key advantages of germicidal ultraviolet air-treatment appliances are that they are easily installed into existing facilities and cost-effective to use,” says lead author Andrew Shoubridge from Flinders University and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.
Senior author Geraint Rogers said GUV technology offers a practical, unobtrusive way to protect vulnerable citizens and other high-risk settings.
The two-year study found GUV devices to be safe for residents, versatile for different facilities, and effective at lowering airborne pathogens in real-world aged care settings.
With over 250,000 Australians in aged care, this technology could crucially protect older adults from seasonal and pandemic respiratory threats, with broader implications for global airborne disease control, researchers said. ■