Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Drug resistant bacteria found in biofilm on 93% of critical care hospital surfaces can now be tackled
Dry surface biofilm has been found to exist on 93% of all critical care area hospital surfaces and over 50% of these biofilms contain mutant germs which are resistant to antibiotics; resulting in healthcare acquired infections. The US Environmental Protection Agency has this week registered the first product to be effective against these biofilms.
Medentech is announcing the efficacy of its effervescent NaDCC disinfection tablet for cleaning and disinfection. "This is something I might never see in my lifetime again," says Michael Gately, CEO Medentech.
"Biofilms give germs 1,000 times more protection, thus standard disinfectants such as bleach, hydrogen peroxide or ultraviolet light, don't work properly. The EPA has developed a new efficacy protocol and I am delighted to say that our NaDCC effervescent disinfection tablets are the first and only product to have passed this test."
Background:
Most germs on hospital surfaces live in a biofilm. A biofilm comprises any group of microorganisms in which cells stick to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy extracellular matrix. Following initial research by Professor Karen Vickery, Hu et al have evidenced the existence of biofilm on 93% of all critical care area surfaces with over 50% of these containing mutant germs.
Mutant germs are multi drug resistant organisms which cause HAIs. Approximately 722,000 HAIs occur annually in U.S. acute care hospitals resulting in 75,000 deaths (CDC 2014).
A new tool has emerged as a broad-spectrum cleaner & disinfectant that eliminates pathogens without damaging surfaces.
Klorkleen 2 disinfectant is the first product to receive EPA registration for its Biofilm efficacy (EPA 71847-7). Klorkleen 2 is a powerful surface disinfectant based on sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) with registered claims as a hospital grade disinfectant that meets the surface disinfection requirements of OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standards. Kill claims include Clostridium difficile spores, Norovirus, Tb, CRE.
By comparing C. diff rates in UK hospitals (where NaDCC is used) and US hospitals (where bleach is used), we can see their relative effectiveness.
Starting in 2008, UK hospitals began switching from bleach to NaDCC, due to COSHH regulations. This change to NaDCC was based on health & safety requirements.
By the end of 2010, the changeover was complete with all UK hospitals said to be using NaDCC.
The graph above shows the impact of the change in C. diff rates in UK hospitals and how those hospitals compare to US hospitals which still use bleach.
Medentech is part of the Kersia Group. Medentech products are used in over 140 countries. The company is perhaps best known for its 'Aquatabs' brand of emergency water purification tablets, of which over one billion are used annually.
Mark Hodgson is looking forward to presenting the Biofilm Solution at @AHE Exchange 2018; an important event for healthcare professionals with a stake in the environment of care.
T: 732 492 8665
W: www.better-than-bleach.com
13th September 2018