Air Decontamination Systems
Reduce SSI, Improved Well-being of Patients and Staff
Aerobiotix technology improves well-being of patients and staff, significantly reducing air decontamination.
Air Decontamination Systems
Reduce SSI, Improved Well-being of Patients and Staff
SURGICAL AIR SYSTEM
Illuvia Sense® is a surgical air decontamination device with environmental sensing and reporting technologies for reducing risk of surgical site infection and improving overall environmental safety in perioperative environments.
Operating room air is full of dangerous contaminants, including:
- Airborne bacteria – can cause surgical site infection1
- 80% of bacteria found in the wound after surgery comes
from the air2
- 80% of bacteria found in the wound after surgery comes
- Surgical smoke particles – contains hazardous chemicals
- O.R. staff are exposed to the equivalent of 27-30 cigarettes
daily3
- O.R. staff are exposed to the equivalent of 27-30 cigarettes
- Infectious aerosols – shed by patients and staff and released
through aerosol-generating procedures, surgical smoke4,5- Expose staff and patients to SARS-CoV-2, C-diff., TB, MRSA
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – classified as hazardousby OSHA
Operating room air is full of dangerous contaminants, including:
- Airborne bacteria – can cause surgical site infection1
- 80% of bacteria found in the wound after surgery comes
from the air2
- 80% of bacteria found in the wound after surgery comes
- Surgical smoke particles – contains hazardous chemicals
- O.R. staff are exposed to the equivalent of 27-30 cigarettes
daily3
- O.R. staff are exposed to the equivalent of 27-30 cigarettes
- Infectious aerosols – shed by patients and staff and released through aerosol-generating procedures, surgical smoke4,5
- Expose staff and patients to SARS-CoV-2, C-diff., TB, MRSA
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – classified as hazardous by OSHA
Isn’t HVAC Enough?
The air coming into your building through the HVAC system is clean when it enters the room. The air isn’t the issue—people are.
“The microbial level in operating room air is directly proportional to the number of people moving in the room.”6 – CDC
As staff members move through the O.R., they shed viruses, bacteria, and spores. Current interventions have limitations:
- HVAC systems are not designed to deal with short bursts of bioaerosols (from people).
- Standard room air exchanges are not enough for today’s busy O.R.s.
- Facemasks alone do not prevent microbial shedding.
- Central laminar flow systems neglect the areas outside of the central zone.
“Even the most robust HVAC system cannot control all airflows and completely prevent dissemination of an infectious aerosol or disease transmission by droplets or aerosols.”7 – ASHRAE, 2020
Proactive Air Management
Illuvia features an integrated particle counter that enables you to monitor and manage the amount of airborne contamination in the operating room.
The chart in this section shows an example of control air quality in the operating room vs. air quality with the Illuvia in use.
See the results at your facility! Contact us to request a complimentary Air Quality Assessment of your operating rooms.
(Source: Data on file, Aerobiotix)
“The Illuvia machine is part of our infection control protocol. We’ve been very happy with the machine and we’ve been really happy with the results for our team.”
Dr. L Joseph Rubino MD, FACS,
Associate Professor at Wright State Physicians
A Proven Solution
Published studies have shown that Illuvia:
- Inactivates 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and spores in the air.9
- Reduces airborne bacteria levels during surgery by 72%, creating a safer environment for patients and staff.¹⁰
- Can reduce the risk of infection during surgery.⁸
- Can help reduce surface contamination by 51%.¹¹
- Can reduce particles arising from smoke plume during surgical
procedures.¹² - Can reduce SARS-CoV-2 bioaerosols below detectable levels.13
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Illuvia work?
- A pre-filter cartridge first captures larger particles to ensure optimum efficiency of the system.
- A proprietary photolytic chamber slows the travel of particles, providing sufficient time for internal ultraviolet light to inactivate them.
- The remaining particles, now inactivated, move through a medical-grade HEPA filter to trap them from returning to the air.
- This technology provides a pathogen elimination rate of 99%.
How much space does Illuvia need?
- Illuvia is engineered for the smallest possible environmental impact.
- Footprint: 18” x 18”
Is Illuvia loud?
- Illuvia makes a consistent white noise-like sound.
- The noise produced from 450 CFM of unit air movement is quite small compared to 2000 CFM typically originating from overhead air ducts.
Is Illuvia a UV robot?
- Illuvia is not a UV robot; it is a nonturbulent ultraclean surgical air system.
- UV robots perform one-time disinfection of unoccupied room surfaces. Once the room is occupied again, it becomes re-contaminated. Illuvia performs continuous air sanitization in occupied rooms.
Does Illuvia Affect Airflow or Positive Pressure?
- Illuvia is specifically designed for use in the operating room. It is nonturbulent.
- Illuvia has a one-to-one air ratio, meaning the same amount of air that goes in comes out. It does not affect airflow.
- The device is placed so it does not block wall ducts.
- The device moves at high volume but low velocity and is designed to not disrupt airflow near the patient.
Is there a warranty?
- Yes, Illuvia is warranted to be free of defects in material, manufacture, and design for a period of three years.
How safe are UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) products?
Unlike many UVGI products currently available, Illuvia uses shielded ultraviolet light (lamps contained within the units), so there is no exposure of ultraviolet light to people. Therefore, our products are safe to use in occupied spaces.
UVGI lamps have been used for many decades in the healthcare industry.
UVC treatment is a proven method for sanitizing air, water, and nonporous surfaces.
What do regulatory organizations say about using HEPA and UVGI to combat SARS-CoV-2?
The American Association of Hip & Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) says:
“Install filters that are able to remove aerosol and droplets, such as HEPA filters. Consideration should be given to the use of portable HEPA filter systems that can remove viral particles from the operating room air without converting to a negative pressure environment.”16
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends:
- Use portable, free-standing high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.
- Use UVGI.
- Only use air cleaners for which evidence of effectiveness and safety is clear. For more information from ASHRAE on the benefits of HEPA and UVGI, refer to the Position Document on Infectious Aerosols (April 14, 2020).
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) recommends:
- Consider using UVGI as a supplement to help inactivate SARS-CoV-2, especially if options for increasing room ventilation are limited.
- For more information from OSHA on the benefits of HEPA and UVGI, refer to Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace.
Has Illuvia been tested for effectiveness?
Yes, this technology has been tested by independent laboratories RTI, NIOHIM, and Battelle Institute. It has been tested with MS2, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and SARS-CoV-2. For test documents, please contact info@aerobiotix.com.
Many peer-reviewed studies and whitepapers also show the product’s efficacy. See “A Proven Solution” above.
What are the maintenance needs of Illuvia?
- Cleaning: Wipe down exterior of the unit with an EPA-registered disinfectant.
- Pre-filter Cartridge Replacement:
- Daily
- HEPA Filter Replacement/UV Lamp Replacement:
- Performed by Aerobiotix representative.
Events
AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo 2023
April 1-4, San Antonio, TX
Connect with us
APIC 2023 Annual Conference
June 26 – 28, Orlando, Florida
Connect with us
References:
1. Chauveaux D. Preventing surgical-site infections: measures other than antibiotics. Orthopedics & Traumatology. 2015;101(1):S77-83.
2. OM Lidwell, E.J.L. Lowbury, W. Whyte, R. Blowers, S.J. Stanley and D. Lowe. Airborne contamination of wounds in joint replacement operations: the relationship to sepsis rates. Journal of Hospital Infection (1983) 4, 111-131
3. Hill DS, O’Neill JK, Powell RJ, Oliver DW. Surgical smoke—a health hazard in the operating theatre: a study to quantify exposure and a survey of the use of smoke extractor systems in UK plastic surgery units. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2012; 65(7):911-916.
4. Eames I, Tang JW, Li Y, Wilson P. Airborne transmission of disease in hospitals. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 2009;6(Suppl 6):S697-S702.
5. Prakash L, Dhar SA, Mushtaq M. COVID-19 in the operating room: a review of evolving safety protocols. Patient Safety in Surgery. 2020;14.
6. Levine AS, Siegel SE, Schreiber AD, et al. Protected environment and prophylactic antibiotics antibiotics. N Engl J Med 1973;288:477-483
7. ASHRAE, 2020, Position Document on Infectious Aerosols (author?)
8. Cook, T. DO, Piatt C., DO, Barnes, S. BSN, Edmiston, Jr. C, PhD. The Impact of Supplemental Intraoperative Air Decontamination on the Outcome of Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Pilot Analysis (year)
9. Evans, A. The efficiency of microorganism inactivation by the Aerobiotix air cleaner. (Research Triangle Institute, 2013).
10. Curtis, G.L., MD, Faour, M., MD, Jawad, Michael, BS, Klika, MS, Barsoum, W.K., MD, Higuera, C.A., MD. Reduction of Particles in the Operating Room Using Ultraviolet Air Disinfection and Recirculation Units. The Journal of Arthroplasty (2017).
11. Bischoff, W., MD, PhD, Russell, G., MS. Correlation of the air-surface nexus of bacterial burden during routine patient care. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (2020). doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.436
12. Davies G, Bradford N, Oliver R, Verheul R, Bruce W, Walsh W. The Effects of a Novel Decontamination-Recirculating System in Reducing Airborne Particulate: A Laboratory-Based Study. In: Vol 99-B. Orthopaedic Proceedings. ; 2017:61-61.
13. Barnewall, R. E. & Bischoff, W. E. Removal of SARS-CoV-2 bioaerosols using ultraviolet air filtration. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiology 1–2 (2021).
