Installing ultraviolet lights could reduce the spread of tuberculosis (TB) in hospital wards and waiting rooms by as much as 70 percent. The move could potentially save many lives globally, particularly where hospital patients are crowded together.
TB kills nearly two million people a year world-wide, and drug resistant strains are becoming more widespread. When a TB patient coughs, bacteria are sprayed into the air in tiny droplets; in a hospital setting, this means patients can infect other patients, visitors and healthcare staff.
A new study has shown that these bacteria can be killed by hanging a shielded short-wave ultraviolet-C (UVC) light from the ceiling with a fan to mix the air. UVC light kills tuberculosis bacteria, including drug-resistant strains, by damaging their DNA so they cannot infect people, grow or divide.
UVC light is already used at high intensity to disinfect empty ambulances and operating rooms.