Cleanzine: your weekly industry and hygiene industry news 17th May 2012 Issue no. 522
Your industry news - first Number 1 for Recruitment
Use the general translation tool for other languages Click here
|
Better-than-national infection rate drops even further at hospital using Xenex
New Year ambitions to reduce healthcare associated infections New ambitions have been set for the National Health Service which build on the progress made on infections last year, Health Minister Simon Burns has announced. If delivered, there would be a further 29% reduction in MRSA bloodstream infections and a further 18% reduction in Clostridium difficile infections by April 2013 - bringing annual numbers of MRSA bloodstream infections down to 880 and reducing Clostridium difficile infections from 19,754 to 16,100. Three weeks left to nominate for Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award
Catching bugs at Karachi hospital Patients are complaining that they are catching infections as a result of the filthy conditions of the beds and a lack of proper hygiene at the Burn Centre of the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK). The hospital's burns unit comprises 60 beds and treats some 900 patients each year.
Unlike in the UK, where we are encouraged to complain if healthcare standards are not up to scratch, the Pakistan Daily Times reports patients as saying: "If we complain about the poor condition of the hospital we are threatened with being thrown out!" Study highlights serious problem of hospital-acquired infections in Africa Research funded by the Wellcome Trust has highlighted the scale of the problem of hospital-acquired infections in sub-Saharan Africa. The study, published today in the 'Lancet', suggests that bloodstream infections acquired while in care might contribute to one in every 20 deaths that occur in children in hospitals in the region. PolyOne and Sanitized AG collaborate on healthcare solutions PolyOne Corporation, the global provider of specialised polymer materials, services and solutions, has just announced an alliance with Sanitized AG, a leading producer of antimicrobials with over 50 years of experience, to provide innovative, customisable polymer solutions for specialised healthcare and medical device applications. Hygiene issues at Indian hospital exacerbated by huge volume of visitors The cleaning programme at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, in the large eastern Indian city of Guwahati, is being severely disrupted by the huge volume of visitors - estimated at some 2000 - 3000 each day with many staying overnight to be with their loved ones. This is leading to a rapid spread of infection as many of these visitors ignore the rules and regulations regarding cleanliness and hygiene. New SoChlor environmental disinfection portfolio aids infection prevention GV Health's new SoChlor portfolio of environmental disinfection products draws on the manufacturer's expertise in infection prevention to help infection control specialists, healthcare cleaning professionals and facilities managers provide cleaner healthcare environments. Study highlights need for more knowledge about green cleaning programmes in hospitals A new research report released by the Health Care Research Collaborative in the US, points out the need for studies to determine the impact of green cleaning programmes on health outcomes in patients and staff, and for additional studies to determine the impact of green cleaners on environmental cleanliness and hospital-acquired infection transmission. The report, 'Green Cleaning in Healthcare: Current Practices and Questions for Future Research', noted that studies need to address a number of topics to help healthcare facilities choose an effective green cleaning programme. HCI introduces new Infection Control Series televisions for healthcare use HCI has announced the release of their new 26" and 32" Infection Control Series (ICS) RoomMate Digital Televisions for use in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to entertain and educate patients, visitors, and staff. The hospital grade televisions feature new technology that can reduce the risk of infection from the spread of bacteria. New approach to fighting hospital superbugs - with friendly bacteria
Kimberly-Clark introduces patient education programme for HAI prevention Following research which revealed that 56% of respondents were not very familiar or not at all familiar with Healthcare-Associated Infections and their causes, Kimberly-Clark has this week announced a new programme to educate patients about HAI's and steps they can take to aid in their prevention. Safe Contractor award for CK Group
A new study published in the September 2011 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (vol. 39 No. 7 pps 555-559) has confirmed that soft surface textiles are significant sources of bacterial contamination in healthcare settings, with 63% of physician and nurse uniforms testing positive for pathogenic organisms, including those that are multi-drug resistant (11%). The study was conducted by the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. It looked at 238 samples from 135 of its hospital personnel [60 (45%) physicians and 75 (55%) nurses]. |
Crothall Healthcare releases Infection Prevention White Paper
Asckey Data Services acquires Eclipse-fm software from HFC As part of the ongoing restructure of the company, Healthcare Facilities Consortium has announced that ownership of their Facilities Management system, Eclipse-fm, has passed to Asckey Data Services ADS which has purchased the software. Poor hospital cleaning revealed in recent Canadian study The health of hospital patients, staff and visitors is increasingly at risk according to a March 2012 study reported by Erica Johnson of the Canadian Broadcasting Company reports Robert Kravitz. Using hidden cameras in 11 Canadian hospitals, the examiners found "many of [the hospitals] were surprisingly inadequate [when it comes to cleaning], in short...dirty." CK Group to launch new OxyPharm disinfection at AHCP event
New Eco-Friendly Washcloth saves money and the environment
NHS selects SoChlor in advanced infection control tender
UMF to provide infection prevention products to Sodexo under multiyear agreement Sodexo and UMF have signed a multiyear agreement whereby UMF, innovator and specialist in environmental hygiene, will provide its infection prevention products to Sodexo. Under the terms of the agreement, UMF will provide its advanced antimicrobial technology with PerfectClean products, education, training and support to the more than 6,000 client partners in Education, Healthcare, Corporate, Government and remote site markets served by Sodexo every day in the US, Canada and Mexico. VDM presents 'DMX' - the evolution of the MX project
Cleaning firm fined over porter's death at Bolton hospital
Dear Sirs, P&G Professional's recent survey 'Cleaning & Disinfecting Clarity' highlighted a common misunderstanding within the industry as to the most effective method to clean and disinfect a surface. It is a lack of proper and consistent training that, in my opinion, is at fault. Unfortunately the lack of proper instruction goes beyond the process of disinfection, it is evident in nearly all aspects of cleaning where there are conflicting instructions from each product and equipment manufacturer as to what the most efficient cleaning process should be. The manufacturer might know best for their own product lines, but obviously that doesn't reflect the market as a whole. Healthcare acquired superbug infections on the rise
Keynote speakers announced for AHCP 2012 National Conference Details of the keynote speakers at the AHCP (Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals) 2012 annual national conference taking place in Telford on 11th -13th June have been announced this week.. Jigsaw gives new hospital Royal treatment
New sanitisation products claim to Kill H5N1 Super Virus
Avian Influenza can survive for considerable lengths of time outside of the host and birds are infected through contact with other birds, vehicles and equipment and personnel travelling between farms, markets and abattoirs. Quality pays for South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
New activated hydrogen peroxide cleaner disinfectants clean fast in healthcare environments
Tristel launches sporicidal wipes you can actually see work
Pseudomonas - we need more facts By Yvonne Orgill, CEO of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association The tragic baby deaths in Belfast's Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital have shocked us all and investigations into how and where this killer bug, pseudomonas, thrived, need to be carried out quickly and accurately. |
Study confirms 'no link' between use of antibacterial soaps and antibiotic resistance Newly published research reaffirms that the use of antibacterial wash products does not contribute to antibiotic or antibacterial resistance, confirming previous research that showcased similar findings. New research highlights potential corrosive impact of some chlorine-based disinfectants New research has highlighted the potential corrosive damage to medical devices caused by ongoing exposure to some chlorine-based disinfectants. This could result in infection risk as well as expense in replacing damaged equipment, according to Synergy Health, which commissioned the laboratory tests. Research findings were presented to clinicians by Sharon King, Senior Product Manager for Synergy Health, at The Infection Prevention Society Conference on Tuesday. UK's C diff deaths down by 31% The national office of statistics has announced that the number of death certificates mentioning Clostridium difficile infection in England and Wales decreased by 31% in 2010, down to 2,704 from 3,933 in 2009. A total of 42% of death certificates referenced C. difficile in 2010, where the infection was recorded as the underlying cause of mortality. This figure compares favourably to the median of 49% over the period 1999 to 2010. Visitors wrecking attempts to keep Indian hospital clean Attempts to keep the 19.4-acre Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, India, are being thwarted by the disrespect shown by some 10,000-odd out-patients and visitors, who litter the place with plastic bags, covers and paper waste - and even attend nature's call in the open, reports The Hindu. The publication also reveals that CMCH employees must take some of the blame, as bedding material, unused cots and the like have been dumped in the grounds too! The Antibac pen: a certified superbug killer Pens that are passed from person to person provide a hotbed for virus transmission such as colds and flu. The new Antibac Pen kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria and viruses making it a 'must have' for the workplace - in fact, anywhere where pens are picked up and used by more than one pair of hands. Healthcare expert applauds new cleaning initiative
Brian Boll, systems director at Jigsaw Cleaning Systems, has outlined the importance of the initiative and has indicated that it will provide much needed assurance to the public. SERV Hampshire blood runners clean up with spill packs SERV Hampshire blood runners are cleaning up any accidental spillages with the latest high tech blood spill packs. Set up in 2006, SERV provides a free out of hours transportation service for NHS Hospitals across Hampshire. Its riders and drivers mainly carry emergency blood supplies - hence the name 'blood runners'. But SERV will transport any urgent consignments needed by doctors, hospitals and laboratories for the medical or surgical treatment of patients. More than one third of Americans personally affected by HCAIs, reveals survey Survey results released on Tuesday reveal that 34% of Americans have, or know someone who has, acquired an infection after being exposed to germs during a hospital stay. Moreover, the survey found that 64% of Americans do not think they would be better protected from germs in the hospital than in their daily lives. The findings underscore that healthcare-associated infections are affecting perceptions of the safety of healthcare facilities and that new technologies are needed to help protect patients from hospital germs, including superbugs such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas) and E. coli. These superbugs can result in HCAIs, which occur in nearly two million patients each year and lead to extended hospital stays, additional health Silver use grows with infection control products Silver usage has grown exponentially in medicine and health-related products, notes The Silver Institute, which has been tracking the metal's increased usage. The high efficiency of silver - its effective concentration is in parts per million or less, the difficulty microorganisms have in developing resistance to silver, and its long history of use as an antimicrobial are all highly positive factors for predicting increased growth in the use of products containing silver for healthcare, explained Michael DiRienzo, Executive Director of the Silver Institute. He said that silver's use in hygiene and medicine is expected to reach over six million ounces by 2015 - up from nearly one million ounces in 2010 -- according to a recent Silver Institute report entitled, 'The Future of Silver Industria New technology kills bacteria that cause hospital infections Early results from a comprehensive multi-site clinical trial demonstrated that the use of antimicrobial copper surfaces in intensive care unit rooms resulted in a 97% reduction of bacteria that cause hospital acquired infections. This particular study also found a 40% reduction in the risk of acquiring an infection. Study results are to be submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency for review and approval. Initial study results were presented at the World Health Organization's 1st International Conference on Prevention & Infection Control (ICPIC) in Geneva, Switzerland, last Friday. Germgard Lighting demonstrates two-second, bare and gloved hand sterilisation Germgard Lighting has developed, tested, and confirmed by independent testing that a small UVC dispenser - specifically designed for sterilising bare or gloved hands safely and quickly - achieves -6log10 inactivation of all relevant pathogens, including tough-to-kill Clostridium difficile spores. It has developed a simple, proprietary means to protect bare skin from UVC exposure. Sterilisation of gloved or bare hands is implemented within a few seconds including an exposure time of only two seconds. In contrast, current bare hand hygiene approaches - handwashing or use of alcohol rubs before and after patient visits, often referred to as a 'wash in, wash out' - limit the ability to sanitise and, in fact, fall somewhat short of the nominal sanitation goal of -log10 inactivation. AeroGlass liquid glass technology helps prevent the spread of infection The recent E-coli outbreak in Germany - which rapidly spread to other European regions - again highlighted how air travel can be linked to the rapid spread of infection. Other than temperature monitoring, there is little that can be done to evaluate the health of the individuals who enter an aircraft, but now Frasers Aerospace is introducing a multi-award winning technology which will significantly reduce the bacterial loading present on surfaces within the aircraft and this technology is available for use in other situations too. The system is based on SiO2 - a cutting-edge Nano Technology material better known as Silicon Dioxide, which is in-fact, Liquid Quartz Glass. When applied to any surface it creates a surface barrier, said to be 500 times thinner than human hair. It is an undetecta Rubbermaid's new Hygen clean water system turns dirty water into clean
Rubbermaid Commercial Products has introduced the new Hygen Clean Water System, which features what the company believes is the first ever integrated water filter that generates cleaner water, cleaner mops and cleaner floors. "Our new Hygen Clean Water System is perfect for use in offices and institutional buildings, hotels, restaurants and catering outlets, retail premises, healthcare sites and many other locations with daily cleaning regimes," said Sophie Mathey-Debeaumont, Product Manager Cleaning, EMEA, Rubbermaid Commercial Products. Inadequate cleaning causes unnecessary deaths in hospitals and care facilities by Steve Champion of Gloveman In this Soapbox article Steve Champion illustrates how a lackadaisical attitude can spread infections in hospitals. Infection control by cleaning effectively should be at the forefront of every healthcare facility, but with viruses like MRSA and C. difficile causing unnecessary deaths throughout the world it is time that the failure in sanitising and disinfecting needs to be addressed. |
