Adelaide: Ultraviolet C (UVC) light technology can substantially lower respiratory infections among elderly care facility residents, an Australian study revealed on Tuesday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, researchers installed germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) devices in South Australian aged care homes to purify air by emitting UVC rays that deactivate viruses and bacteria. This finding was released in a statement by South Australia's Flinders University.

The randomized trial conducted in four aged care facilities demonstrated that the use of commercial GUV devices decreased viral respiratory infections by 12.2 percent, equating to approximately 0.3 fewer cases on a weekly basis. This study was detailed in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, published by the American Medical Association.

Lead author Andrew Shoubridge from Flinders University and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute noted that germicidal ultraviolet air-treatment appliances are advantageous due to their easy installation in existing facilities and cost-effectiveness.

Senior author Geraint Rogers highlighted that GUV technology offers a practical and unobtrusive method for protecting vulnerable individuals and can be applied in other high-risk settings.

The two-year study confirmed that GUV devices are safe for residents, adaptable for various facilities, and effective in reducing airborne pathogens in real-world aged care settings.

With over 250,000 Australians in aged care, the researchers emphasized that this technology could play a critical role in protecting older adults from seasonal and pandemic respiratory threats, with significant implications for global airborne disease control.