The recent Ebola epidemic in the United States has shown how poorly equipped some U.S. hospitals are to combat an infectious disease outbreak.

Although the Ebola virus infection is not likely, patients are at greater risk of contracting other superbugs such as Clostridium difficile (MRSA), VRE, and MRSA.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 99,000 people die each year from infections contracted in hospital. Additionally, one in twenty patients is diagnosed with an infection that was not present when they arrived. This amounts to an average of $30 billion per year in medical expenses.

“Eliminating pathogens from patient rooms is the quickest and easiest way to lower the risk of additional infections,”Mark Stibich Ph.D., chief scientific officer and co-founder of XenexA San Antonio-based company, Xenon UV (UV) has developed a robot that can destroy potentially deadly bacteria and viruses.

Kelly Mather is the CEO of Sonoma Valley Hospital.

“This is an example of our commitment to patient safety,”Mather. “We add another layer of protection for our patients with this UV disinfection technology, which has been shown to be 20 times more effective than manual cleaning with chemicals.”Consumer Reports ranked the hospital as one of the top 15 safest hospitals across the United States earlier in the year.

Here are three ways to avoid infection when you go to the hospital.

1. Do your research. Now, you can find online information about hospital infections rates www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov. To ensure that the hospital where your treatment is to take place is below the national average, check its infection rate. If it’s not, inform your doctor.

2. Ask questions. Ask questions about the hospital’s disinfection protocols. Are they using the latest technologies to get rid of superbugs in their rooms? Hospitals using full spectrum UV light “germ-zapping robots”There are dramatic decreases in the incidence of infections.

3. Wash your hands. This sounds simple but it is important. Germs are easily transmitted by healthcare workers to you from high-touch surfaces, such as bedrails or door handles.

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