Robot’s ‘Beam Of Cleansing Light’ Helps Hospitals Fight Silent Killers
Germs in hospitals can be deadly, but this new machine zaps them.
Sacramento Bee:
Germ-Zapping Xenex Robot Another Tool In Fight Against Hospital Infections
Last week, Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento showed off its first-ever “germ-zapping” robot, a wheeled machine that emits pulsating ultraviolet light that’s been shown to kill off infection-causing bacteria. It’s even got a name, chosen by hospital staffers: Xhaiden, an American baby name said to mean “beam of cleansing light.” (Buck, 3/13)
In other public health news —
Capital Public Radio:
Costs For Alzheimer's Patients Continue To Rise
Health care costs for treating Californians with Alzheimer's disease continue to grow significantly. It will cost Medi-Cal an estimated $3.5 billion to care for people with Alzheimer's disease this year, according to the Alzheimer's Association. And it's expected to rise 47 percent over the next eight years...The report shows the average out-of-pocket costs for seniors with
Alzheimer’s and other dementias are almost five times higher than for people without the disease. (Johnson, 3/13)
Los Angeles Times:
Your Kids Aren't Killing You; One Day They May Actually Help You Live Longer
Sometimes — a lot of times — it feels as if being a parent is shaving years off your life, but a new study suggests that’s not the case. In fact, just the opposite may be true. (Netburn, 3/13)
KPCC:
Our Wet Winter Could Be Bad News For Pollen Allergies
While the winter rains may have eased California's drought, "some people are going to have to appreciate it inside their cars or inside their homes," because the increased plant growth also means more pollen in the air, said Tam, Medical Director at the Gores Family Allergy Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Pollen allergies can cause stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and tiredness. They can be particularly harmful for people who are also asthmatic. Rain isn’t the only weather condition that affects allergies; winds can blow pollen from one area to another. Even if an individual isn't allergic to the tree pollen in his immediate area, "you get those Santa Ana winds and you get those pollens coming down into the city so you will be affected," said Dr. Richard Barbers, Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. (Lavender, 3/13)