Xenex Co-Founder Dr. Mark Stibich to Present “No-Touch Disinfection Systems: Choosing and Using New Technologies for Room Disinfection” at AHE EXCHANGE 2012

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Xenex Healthcare Services, the world leader in UV room disinfection systems, today announced that co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Mark Stibich will conduct a presentation entitled “No-Touch Disinfection Systems: Choosing and Using New Technologies for Room Disinfection” on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at AHE EXCHANGE 2012.

“Because some of these technologies are new, many hospitals are confused about how to evaluate the various systems. My session will provide a decision model for Environmental Services teams to evaluate the different kinds of disinfection systems available today.”

EXCHANGE 2012 is the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) Annual Conference and Healthcare Marketplace, which takes place in Phoenix September 16 – 19, 2012. It is designed for Environmental Services professionals as well as others responsible for the healthcare environment.

Healthcare associated infections (also referred to as HAIs or hospital acquired infections) are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, costing more than $30 billion each year. Evidence continues to mount that hospital cleanliness plays a role in the spread of HAIs, which are caused by deadly pathogens such as C. diff, MRSA, VRE and Acinetobacter. Hospital cleaning teams are not able to disinfect all the surfaces in patient rooms, with research showing that more than half of the surfaces remain untouched. Additionally, deadly “superbugs” are showing resistance to cleaning fluids, making them even more difficult to remove and eliminate.

“Current hospital cleaning equipment and chemicals have proven to be inadequate, but new ‘no-touch’ disinfection technologies are able to dramatically reduce the number of pathogens in patient rooms,” said Dr. Stibich. “Because some of these technologies are new, many hospitals are confused about how to evaluate the various systems. My session will provide a decision model for Environmental Services teams to evaluate the different kinds of disinfection systems available today.”

No-touch disinfection systems use technologies such as ultraviolet light or hydrogen peroxide vapor to disinfect rooms and other areas. Dr. Stibich’s presentation includes various aspects of implementing no-touch disinfection systems such as prioritizing areas for disinfection, dispatching the equipment, selecting technologies, assessing clinical efficacy and training.

Dr. Stibich speaks frequently about room disinfection technology and is regarded as a thought leader in the infection control community. As Chief Scientific Officer of Xenex, he oversees scientific research, product development, facility assessments, and protocol design. He also leads new technology development and is an inventor on multiple patents. He meets frequently with infection prevention representatives at healthcare facilities, helping them understand and solve their infection control challenges. Dr. Stibich holds a doctoral degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, a Masters in Health Science, also from Johns Hopkins, and a bachelor’s degree from Yale University.

About Xenex Healthcare Services

Xenex's patented pulsed xenon UV room disinfection systems are utilized for the advanced cleaning of the patient environment in healthcare facilities. The Xenex system is the fastest, safest, most cost-effective, and easy-to-use system available today among room disinfection technologies. The Xenex mission is to significantly reduce the number of HAIs that impact the health and lives of millions of patients and their families and become the new standard method for disinfection in healthcare facilities worldwide. For more information, visit www.xenex.com.