A robot that uses ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses‚ especially ones that are resistant to antibiotics‚ is being tested for the first time in South Africa. The robot is currently being trialled at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital in Cape Town.“In South Africa and around the world there is a growing problem with antibiotic resistance. It is essential for us to focus on preventative measures, instead of just throwing bigger and better antibiotics at the problem‚ especially as pharmaceutical companies are struggling to develop new antibiotic drugs‚” says Dr Ricky Dippenaar‚ head of the neonatal intensive care units at Netcare Blaauwberg and Netcare N1 City hospitals.The Xenex robot is about the size of a large vacuum cleaner.When switched on‚ a dome-shaped ‘head’ emerges from the robot. This sits on top of a ‘neck’ of lamps that emit pulses of high-intensity xenon ultraviolet (UV) light that destroys bacteria‚ viruses and mould.“Because bacteria have never been exposed to this frequency of light‚ it means they are facing a new environmental factor that they are not able to survive‚” Dr Dippenaar said in a statement. “The light passes through the cell walls of bacteria‚ viruses and mould and destroys their DNA‚ preventing them from replicating.”The four-month long pilot study is in the neonatal intensive care unit‚ where premature babies are cared for. In that environment‚ Netcare said‚ the highest risk area is where the mothers’ breast milk is prepared. The robot will be used in addition to the normal cleaning and disinfection protocols.“No staff‚ babies‚ mothers‚ or milk will be exposed to it. It is placed in a room‚ switched on‚ and left for a couple of minutes to ‘wash’ every surface with pulses of light‚ getting into those nooks and crannies‚ which conventional cleaning equipment may not have been able to reach‚” the hospital group said...