LAKELAND, Fla. – Lakeland Regional Health is taking another proactive step to strengthen patient safety, becoming the first and currently only hospital in Florida to implement innovative technology that allows healthcare teams to visualize viable Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) spores on surfaces.
C. diff is a bacterium that can cause serious infections, particularly in healthcare settings. Its spores are invisible to the naked eye and can survive on surfaces for months, making environmental cleaning and infection prevention essential to protecting patients and healthcare workers.
The technology, developed by LivProcess, uses a specialized solution, forensic lighting and goggles to help reveal viable C. diff spores that would otherwise go unseen. This gives Lakeland Regional Health’s Infection Prevention and Environmental Services teams additional information to identify areas requiring attention and further strengthen existing cleaning practices.
“At Lakeland Regional Health, patient safety is at the heart of everything we do,” said Esther Smith, Manager of Infection Control at Lakeland Regional Health. “We’re continually looking for innovative ways to strengthen the care environment for our patients and team members. This technology provides another tool to support the dedicated professionals who work every day to keep our hospital safe.”
Since implementing the technology in May 2026, Lakeland Regional Health has incorporated its findings into how Environmental Services professionals approach cleaning and surface verification.
For years, healthcare teams have relied on established cleaning protocols, training and verification methods to address environmental threats that cannot be seen with the naked eye. This technology adds a new level of visibility, allowing staff to make more informed decisions about areas that may need additional attention.
Importantly, the technology is not intended to replace existing cleaning practices or evaluate individual employees. Instead, it complements established infection prevention efforts and provides another resource to support the expertise of Environmental Services professionals.
“Our Environmental Services team plays an essential role in protecting patients, families and colleagues,” said Dr. Daniel Haight, Medical Director of Infection Prevention at Lakeland Regional Health. “Having the ability to visualize something that was previously invisible gives our team additional insight to guide its work, validate processes and identify opportunities for continued improvement.”
A Proactive Approach to Patient Safety
Lakeland Regional Health implemented the technology as part of its ongoing commitment to advancing infection prevention and patient safety, not in response to an outbreak.
While the technology provides additional insight into environmental conditions, it does not replace established cleaning and disinfection protocols.
The announcement coincides with November’s C. diff Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of infection prevention and the work healthcare professionals do behind the scenes to help protect patients.
By becoming the first hospital in Florida to adopt this technology, Lakeland Regional Health continues to explore innovative approaches that support its teams and strengthen the care environment for the community it serves.
