Xenex Healthcare Services LLC, which specializes in developing disinfection technology for healthcare facilities, announced the commercial launch of its pulsed xenon room disinfection system and the conclusion of the Xenex system’s successful trial at a leading U.S. cancer center. The Xenex system, which is now available, is the fastest, safest, and most effective method for the advanced cleaning of hospital rooms in the world today, quickly destroying all major classes of microorganisms (including viruses, bacteria and bacterial spores) without contact or chemicals.
Capable of disinfecting a hospital room in less than nine minutes, the Xenex system is considerably faster than other automated cleaning and infection control methods, including mercury ultraviolet (UV) and hydrogen peroxide-based systems, which can take multiple hours to achieve the same level of disinfection. Xenex’s unique pulsed xenon UV disinfection system is also safer and less expensive than other room disinfection technologies.
"Healthcare associated infections, or HAIs, are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and cost more than $30 billion each year. Meanwhile, current hospital cleaning equipment and chemicals are proven to be inadequate, leaving patients at serious risk for acquiring an infection from the surfaces in their room," said Brian Cruver, CEO of Xenex. "We offer a simple and practical approach to creating a pathogen-free environment for the patient, which can help hospitals save lives and save money by preventing HAIs."
The Xenex system has been tested on a variety of the most dangerous "superbugs," including Clostridium difficile endospores (C. diff), in several independent labs in the U.S and internationally, and has been shown to be 20 times more effective than standard cleaning practices. Xenex has also tested operational methods and room cleaning protocols to perfect the use of the Xenex system without disrupting operations in a facility with concerns about room turnover time.
"Patients are significantly more likely to contract an antibiotic resistant infection when they are placed in a room where the previous occupant had an infection, and treating a MRSA infection can cost a hospital more than $60,000. Preventing just one MRSA infection could pay for the Xenex system for an entire year," said Mark Stibich, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Xenex. "Hospitals are actively searching for an effective way to clean their rooms – and we believe the Xenex system is the best option."