Bon Secours St. Francis welcomes COVID-19-killing robots

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The Bon Secours St. Francis Health System has enlisted two COVID-19-killing robots into its disinfecting fleet.

The hospital is the first in the Upstate to employ LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots that can sterilize a procedure room in 10 to 15 minutes, according to a news release. Powered by artificial intelligence and pulsed xenon, the robots use bursts of ultraviolet light to dismantle bacteria, mold, fungus and viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19.

“Our goal is to provide the safest possible healing environment for our patients,” Matt Caldwell, president of Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, said in the release. “Bon Secours already has a comprehensive infection prevention program in place and we are very excited about adding these robots to our infection prevention bundle, which also includes hand hygiene, antibiotic stewardship and education. LightStrike room disinfection is an additional step we are taking to enhance the safety of our patients, which is our focus and priority.”

According to the release, the robots are an example of employing new technology to quell infection as “superbugs” become increasingly resistant to typical disinfectants, antibiotics and hand sanitizers.

Peer-reviewed studies indicate that the robot’s disinfection measures coupled with Xenex infection prevention programs can decimate bacterial and viral populations like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, Clostridium difficile or C. diff, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and Surgical Site Infection rates, the release said.