Professor Geraint Rogers1
1Director, Microbiome and Host Health Programme, SAHMRI
Biography
Professor Geraint Rogers is a microbiologist and Director of the Microbiome and Host Health Program at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. He holds a conjoint professorial appointment at Flinders University and is internationally recognised for his work on microbial ecology and its impact on human health. His research focuses on the role of the microbiome in ageing, infection, chronic disease, and antimicrobial resistance, with a strong translational emphasis. He has published extensively, leads multidisciplinary teams, and is committed to advancing microbiome science to inform healthcare innovation and improve patient outcomes.
Abstract
Each winter, respiratory viruses spread rapidly through Australia, posing serious risks to residents of aged care facilities who often have age-related frailty and chronic health conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people aged 65 years and older accounted for 95% of related deaths, with mortality rates exceeding 50% in some facility outbreaks. Traditional infection-control measures, such as hand hygiene, surface cleaning, and mask use, were designed primarily for droplet or contact transmission and offered limited protection against airborne transmission.
To address this gap, our research team in South Australia evaluated the use of germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light devices, which inactivate airborne viruses, as a strategy to reduce respiratory infections in aged care environments. In collaboration with Helping Hand, Eldercare, and the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network, we conducted a two-year clinical trial across communal spaces, including dining rooms, corridors, and lounges. Spaces were randomly assigned to alternating six-week periods with the UV devices active or inactive, allowing direct comparison of infection rates.
The intervention reduced respiratory infections by over 12%, equating to approximately 92 fewer infections per 1,000 residents annually. Given that such infections increase hospitalisation risk by three- to nine-fold and mortality by up to eleven-fold, this reduction represents a substantial improvement in resident health and a potential decrease in healthcare burden.
Our findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggest that germicidal UV light is a practical and effective approach to mitigating respiratory virus transmission in aged care, with implications for pandemic preparedness and prevention of seasonal infections such as influenza and RSV.