Words: Kathleen Misovic

We encounter artificial intelligence (AI) every day in various ways, from voice assistants and travel directions on phones to facial recognition unlocking devices and chatbots that assist us online. Although we know AI can help make our lives more convenient, we may not realise that it can also help us stay healthier.

“AI is revolutionising infection prevention by offering innovative solutions to address challenges in healthcare settings,” Compass Health Consultancy healthcare advisor, trainer and infection prevention and control (IPC) consultant Bassel Molaeb says. 

Intelligent robots to the rescue

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities routinely use ultraviolet (UV) lights to disinfect patient areas. Recent AI technology has enabled these disinfecting lights to program themselves. “These AI-driven devices are positioned in the corner of a room,” Molaeb says. “They map the movement of people and monitor high-touch areas. Once the room becomes vacant, UV beams target the bioburden in the room.”

Molaeb said these AI-controlled disinfecting lights are very effective at removing pathogens in surgical and procedure rooms along with high-traffic areas. “It’s a very promising technology in areas where there is a high turnover of patients,” he says. “It solves the problem of frequently relocating and setting up the device.”  

The technology also allows the UV rays to access areas that are hidden or in the shadows and decreases human error in programming the lights.

AI-driven robots can monitor indoor air quality and automate disinfection. Intelligent robots also can be programmed to clean and sterilise medical instruments, for example, automatically cleaning and packaging dental tools.

A helping hand for staff training

AI is transforming training workers in healthcare by developing interactive, adaptive modules and simulations tailored to infection prevention. Interactive training frequently focuses on hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) use and aseptic techniques.

For example, an AI-driven app on mobile devices walks healthcare workers step-by-step through proper hand hygiene techniques and can track individual performance, provide personalised feedback and highlight areas for improvement. “You can watch an animated demonstration on applying hand sanitiser, then practice the technique, rubbing it into your hands,” Molaeb says. 

The same AI technology interacts with users on other infection prevention practices, such as donning and doffing PPE. “The application can be uploaded on a tablet and placed in a unit, where it is available for workers to log in 24/7,” Molaeb adds. After completing their training, workers can confirm their compliance through AI sensor technology. 

Leave the surveillance to AI

Like many workers, healthcare staff can get bogged down with background responsibilities that distract them from the hands-on tasks they prefer. Infection prevention involves analysing data to find infection patterns and predict outbreaks. “Surveillance takes up a bulk of time,” Molaeb says. “Imagine if you had a tool that would help you with that surveillance and come up with a plan to integrate into your infection prevention practices.”

Instead of the infection preventionist sparing the time to check lab results, AI collects it for them. It can predict when and where infections like surgical site infections or multidrug-resistant organisms might occur based on patient risk factors, environmental conditions and other variables. 

No substitute for the human touch

Healthcare facilities that integrate AI into their infection prevention strategies can enhance predictive capabilities, automate essential processes and improve workforce competency, ultimately reducing HAIs and improving patient outcomes.

Despite all the benefits of AI, Molaeb stressed that its primary purpose is to serve infection preventionists and environmental services staff, giving them the knowledge to follow infection prevention protocols more efficiently and the time to tend to the needs of the patients and healthcare facility.

However you look at it, AI is a tool to augment human expertise rather than replace it, and most would agree, it’s the best of both worlds.