CASE STUDY
Fighting Bioaerosols and Building Cleaner Dental Spaces at LECOM
Implementing Lit Thinking’s Visium Far-UVC light fixtures reduces microbial load on dental suite surfaces.
OVERVIEW
The LECOM School of Dentistry is an institution dedicated to practical, hands-on training of dental professionals, leading the field with cutting edge safety measures for students and staff.
ABOUT LECOM
Dental suites are large generators of bioaerosols. LECOM’s School of Dentistry sought a solution to reduce risk of aerosolized microbes to staff and students in the close quarters of dentist-patient interactions.
LECOM is an active teaching facility, with large lecture halls, practicum rooms, and cafeteria alongside a functioning dental clinic. The LECOM dental clinic is open to the public 12 hours a day.
THE CHALLENGE
Traditional terminal cleaning methods leave gaps in sanitation between cleaning session, allowing germs to accumulate on high-touch surfaces. In a dental suite, the biggest culprit is the bioaerosols generated during dental cleanings. With the addiction of Far-UVC air treatment, bioaerosols can be inactivated and lead to lower risk patient interactions for staff and students.
OUR SOLUTION: Visium Far-UVC
Two of Lit Thinking’s Visium devices were installed in a dental suite that actively serves patients. Far UVC will continuously inactivate bioaerosols and surface bioburden in this 100 sqft space. Devices were recessed into the ceiling for seamless integration within the room.
KEY FEATURES
- Continuous 24/7 air and surface sanitization
- Far-UVC tech proven to reduce airborne pathogens
- Discreet and silent operation, for a patient-centered environment
- Visium app bridges IoT connectivity for real-time monitoring via mobile devices
A key benefit of Visium is that it’s silent and visually inconspicuous, providing continuous sanitization with zero disruption or distraction. To get a closer look at Visium in the LECOM dental suite, move the slider bar in the image for an enhanced view.
THIRD PARTY TEST RESULTS
Sampling taken of high touch surfaces of the Visium dental suite compared to an identical, non-Visium suite demonstrate the reduction of bacterial bioburden throughout patient appointments.
Fourteen locations in the two rooms had their surfaces swabbed for comparison and quantification by an independent test lab, Culturewell.
Visium had been used in the dental suite for a month ahead of sampling, demonstrating that a new, lower surface bioburden level has been established.
Results showed that Visium reduced the bacterial abundance on high touch surfaces and kept them up to 98% lower than the identical suite without Far-UVC.
OUTCOME
Visium seamlessly integrated into the LECOM School of Dentistry facilities and their established hygiene plans, providing continuous sanitization verified by biological sampling.
Samples collected from the Dental suites were independently analyzed and demonstrated bacterial reduction with consistent Visium use
Up to 98% reduction of colony forming unites (CFUs), even with active use of the space
Visium reduced the amount of known bioaerosol bacteria, reducing risk to staff and students
CONCLUSION
LECOM School of Dentistry is committed to seeking greener, eco-friendly solutions to room hygiene for the benefit of their staff, students, and patients. Unwilling to compromise on cleaning efficiency, Visium was able to meet and exceed their expectations to improve air quality and surface sanitation without disrupting patient appointments.
Even with the Visium dental suite in consistent use, the amount of colony forming units on the surfaces of the room were kept lower compared to the non-Far-UVC suite.
LECOM representatives Visium installations as an additional safeguard for students against the risks of bioaerosols and seasonal illnesses.
