Role of technology in modern infection prevention

Infection prevention and control is an essential element in today’s healthcare systems so as to minimize on the rate of transmission of diseases to patients. Given the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria as well as the newly identified pathogens, it is not enough to simply re-utilize the conventional approaches. Infection control has been an issue of concern in health facilities due to the various complications associated with infections, but this has been eased with the help of technology.

Modern technology mainly Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP) and plasma sterilizers have made immense change in the sterilization process. These technologies provide proper cleaning of arms and surfaces relating to patient care and reduce the possibility of human mistake. Modern smart sterilizers that are connected to the IoT allow for constant monitoring of the process and control, so the necessary conditions are created during the process.

Big data and artificial intelligence infection surveillance systems enable identification of the rates of spreading infections in a facility. Using the principles of big data analytics, these systems can predict out break and recommend ways of preventing them making the control of infectious diseases faster and more accurate. Likewise, wearable technology allows for the continuous tracking of patients’ status and identifies early signs of an infection before it progresses.

There is a progressive improvement in UV-C light systems and robotic cleaners that have an apparent role in quick and effective cleaning of hospital facilities. It is a fact that these innovations get rid of the pathogens without the need for aggressive chemicals, the possibility of acute infection in hospitals is minimized.

There is also a major use of nanotechnology especially in the use of antimicrobial surfaces and coatings. These advanced materials prevent the growth of pathogen on the surface of hospital and do not required continual renewal and cleaning.

Some of the advances have also contributed to the prevention of infections by enabling doctors to conduct diagnoses through telemedicine thus not exposing patients to hospitals so that they could acquire infections. Another intervention technology that has been developed is the in-vitro diagnostics – IVD that make it easy to detect pathogens early enough to be treated and controlled.

With time technology doesn’t standby but advances and hence the role of technology in infections preventions will only advance with time to offer new solutions to the protection of the patient and the health care worker. Thus, the implementation of these innovations is critical for modern healthcare facilities that intend to be ahead of their counterparts in combating infections.