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Link: KLTV 7
One of the Welsh contestants in Wales' Technium Challenge Awards competition this year is an entrepreneurial company called SteriTouch, developer of a range of products made from plastics containing an antimicrobial agent that kills bacteria instantly. Products made from these materials are inherently antimicrobial, which means that bacteria coming in contact with them -- including e-coli, salmonella and the superbug MRSA -- are instantly destroyed. Since products containing SteriTouch also need no specialist treatment during their lifetimes, they represent low-maintenance, cost-effective, long-term weapons against infection.
Link: Tests emphasise need for hygiene vigilance.
The data shows that an application of TECare reduces the RLU count of a swab taken of an area of contact for members of the public, for clients of health and social care services and for the providers of those care services. RLU counts can be shown to translate directly into microbial contamination levels.5-8 The organisms studied here will be mostly harmless community-encountered bacteria but could include the vectors of wound sepsis, gas gangrene or gastrointestinal or respiratory infection. According to pass/fail levels agreed prior to the evaluation (see Table 1), the levels of reduction achieved were equivalent to those thought to be obtained by autoclaving. The level of sanitisation persisted, despite potential re-contamination through normal day-to-day use, for three to five weeks after application demonstrating the residual antimicrobial properties of TECare on treated surfaces. The levels appear to remain lower for longer periods after subsequent applications. TECare therefore represents an invaluable but inexpensive surface treatment which can keep health and social care locations as free from infective agents as can be achieved with destructive, toxic or harmful agents but for longer than those agents could be expected to be effective.
Link: Outstanding
Masterbatches have been used for many years to imbue plastic products with antibacterial properties. These masterbatches were often polymer specific and frequently required modifications to processing techniques, particularly if based on volatile organic antibacterial agents. The UK based antibacterial additive specialist, SteriTouch�, has launched a masterbatch that provides excellent antibacterial performance in a number of polymers, including polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC. For companies using multiple polymers, this can mean a potentially significant reduction in masterbatch stock, as several polymer specific antibacterial masterbatches can be replaced by a single ‘universal’. Importantly, the masterbatch is suitable for injection moulding, extrusion and blow moulding. The antibacterial results achieved using the SteriTouch� universal masterbatch are not compromised by this flexibility. Independent testing to the JIS Z 2801 standard has consistently demonstrated class leading performance, with a reduction in bacterial population of up to 99.9999% within twenty four hours. The masterbatch is effective against both mould and illness causing bacteria including MRSA, E. coli and Salmonella.
Link: Telegraph
The leading developer of technology to kill hospital superbugs has seen an 11pc increase in turnover to �17m amid strong demand for its products in the US. Bioquell, based in Hampshire, last month reported it cut superbug infections at a US hospital by 53pc. Nick Adams, Bioquell's chief executive, said a 10-month study had prompted discussions with US hospitals about installing specialised teams full-time to regularly "de-bug" their premises using the company's technology. Scientists have identified five strains of superbug, including MRSA, C.diff and VRE, which are resistant to normal antibiotics. Bioquell believes it can eradicate all five versions of the infection. Bioquell is building its business on the hope that killing superbugs can be highly economically attractive for hospitals. Not only does it remove the risk of litigation, but also cuts the cost of drugs which have to be given to a patient and the time the person would take up space in a bed.
Link: The Sun Online
A PENSIONER died after catching MRSA as she lay beside a mould-covered hospital radiator. Horrified Barry Kaye saw the spores under the heater’s grille in 74-year-old wife Alfreda’s room. Mr Kaye, 57, told an inquest: “It looked like it was covered in vegetable peelings left on a compost heap for two weeks.” Mrs Kaye died three weeks after a hip replacement op at West Suffolk Hospital, the Bury St Edmunds inquest heard. Doctors cured her MRSA, but it was still listed among the causes of death. Coroner Dr Peter Dean ruled Mrs Kaye died due to “complications against a background of natural disease”. He added: “The things Mr Kaye saw raise significant concern.” Hospital bosses apologised.
Link: Oldham Evening Chronicle SPORT.
A LOCAL doctor involved in a pioneering national trial to help beat killer superbug MRSA says the results are “absolutely amazing”. Leesbrook GP Andrew Taylor said: “This stuff kills pretty well every micro-organism. You can use it just about everywhere, and its potential is massive.” Results of the three-month trial detailing Dr Taylor’s involvement will be published in two professional publications — Friday’s Healthcare Estates Journal and the Clinical Services Journal. Dr Taylor volunteered his Mellor Street surgery to trial the latest product in the fight against MRSA and other bacteria — which can have deadly consequences in hospitals and surgeries — after a chance conversation with one of his patients, Gary Brierley. Mr Brierley, who lives in Springhead, is managing director of Warrington-based Innobase, which has developed the formula. The cleaning solution is harmless to people bu can kill bacteria, viruses, moulds, fungi and spores including MRSA and e-coli, for up to four weeks. It is already being used on commercial aircraft to prevent the spread of TB and viruses including SARS.
Link: Amoebe promote persistence of epidemic strains of MRSA.
Scientists in the UK have found that a type of amoeba acts as an incubator for MRSA bacteria. As amoebae are often found in healthcare environments this discovery has implications for the infection control strategies adopted by hospitals. The single cell amoeba, Acanthamoeba polyphagam, commonly eats and digests environmental bacteria. It also engulfs pathogens such as MRSA. However, instead of being digested by the amoeba, MRSA survives and replicates whilst inside the amoeba. Prof Michael Brown and colleagues at the University of Bath, found that MRSA in association with amoebae increased in numbers 1000- fold. The pathogenic bacteria, Legionella, also replicate inside amoebae and are then released into the environment. The released bacteria are less susceptible to biocides and antimicrobials, and are more invasive than the same bacteria which have grown freely. Replication within amoebae may have the same effect on MRSA. Amoebae, as cysts, are often dispersed by air currents, providing another means of spreading any trapped bacteria. "We need more research into the role of amoeba in the spread of MRSA - hospitals should aim to eradicate amoebae as well as the bacteria themselves" said Prof. Brown of the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath.
Link: RedOrbit
IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION Based on the findings of this study, there is a need for heightened awareness of cleaning procedures and standard precautions. Cleaning is paramount; however, it must be performed correctly to be effective. When bacteria are subjected to sublethal levels of disinfectants, they can become resistant to antibiotics.48,63 AORN provides recommended practices for environmental cleaning that includes terminally cleaning telephones at the end of the day.18 Additionally, AORN recommends that such cleaning should occur when equipment is visibly soiled.73 In this study, one telephone (ie, specimen #9910) was cultured after the room had been cleaned between procedures. This specimen had the second highest number of colony forming units at 2.16 per cm^sup 2^. This finding is particularly disturbing and raises the question, "Should telephones and other objects frequently contacted by staff members' hands in the perioperative environment be cleaned between procedures rather than only at the end of the day?" More important, it is the initial contamination of telephones rather than the cleaning that is of concern. Standard precautions require workers to wear gloves when the possibility of exposure to body fluids exists. On removing gloves, hands should be washed.69 The obvious conundrum for OR personnel is that a circulating nurse frequently touches soiled materials and must leave the room in order to wash his or her hands. Leaving the room decreases the room's positive air pressure and places the patient at risk for infection.18 A possible solution may be to provide waterless alcoholbased hand hygiene products in the individual ORs. Ultimately, the cleanliness of the surgical suite is the responsibility of perioperative nurses.18 Perioperative managers in concert with facility infection control officers must ensure that US Environmental Protection Agencyapproved hospital disinfectants are both appropriate for emerging resistant bacteria and are being used correctly. Close attention must be applied to these key processes and focused to include aseptic principles and standard precautions. Future research may seek to * measure hand washing compliance in the surgical suite; \* quantify the number of varying bacteria that can be transferred from contaminated surfaces to incisions via gloved hands and cause infection; * identify the frequency with which OR personnel contact surfaces with gloved hands after performing the function requiring the use of those gloves; or * quantify the contamination of other objects frequently contacted by hands, such as door handles or computer keyboards. Critical items that come into contact with sterile tissue present a significant risk of infection if microorganisms are present. One study dearly linked the transfer of bacteria from telephones to hands and from hands to other skin surfaces. Researchers used a standardized specimen data collection and analysis sheet to record the identification and interpretation of bacteria found on OR telephones. Colonies were identified by shape (ie, spherical, rod-like, spiral) and cell wall (ie, gram-positive, gram-negative). The mean number of colonies found on telephones in this study was 23.3 colonyforming units (CFU) or 0.81 CFU per cm^sup 2^. Transmission of these bacteria could have been avoided with simple hand washing, surface disinfection, and use of basic aseptic techniques.
Link: Byotrol plc UK Regulatory Announcement
Byotrol plc ("the Company") is pleased to announce some important developments in the health sector - a key market for the Company's microbial control products. As set out in the announcement of interim results for the period ended 30 September 2005, the Company is undertaking a trial with a major NHS hospital to study the efficacy of its technology in reducing the spread of hospital-acquired MRSA. The initial phase is complete with encouraging preliminary results that show significantly reduced environmental MRSA. Given these preliminary results, the Company is now seeking to extend the scope of the trial to assess the effectiveness of Byotrol's products across a wider range of operational clinical environments. Preparatory work is underway for presentation of the results at a major Infection Control meeting within the healthcare industry in the third quarter of 2006. The Directors believe that a key commercial advantage of Byotrol's product range is the ability to integrate with the existing hygiene regime without requiring capital investment, special safety measures or significant staff training, patient relocation or otherwise disrupting the day-to-day working of the clinical environment.
Link: ShareCast
The aim of the trial, lasting 9 months, was to determine Bioquell’s success in reducing patient infection rates and eliminating bacteria, including Clostridium difficile, MRSA and VRE. During that time the group reported a statistically significant 53% year-on-year reduction in the number of new, hospital acquired C. diff cases for the months when the hyper-virulent strain was present in the hospital, said the group. Chief executive Nick Adams said, “C.diff continues to cause major problems for healthcare providers throughout the world and we expect that these results will create significant interest from hospitals in the US and elsewhere.” Preliminary trial results announced in December last year showed that the company’s technology is highly effective at eliminating C.diff, MRSA and VRE from the hospital environment, including from sensitive electronic medical equipment.
Link: icWales
Bob, a father of three, has one grandson, Connor, two, who is Katherine's son, and said: 'I only have one grandchild and the thought of him catching MRSA in hospital encouraged me to find a product that would solve this problem.' Mr Thorne, who owns hygiene distribution company RTGL, based in Canton, has teamed up with Cogan man Ahmet Ziyaeddin, whose company, A-Z Cleaning and Sanitation Services, has created the product, which offers a total clean and is food friendly. Mr Ziyaeddin, 36, said: 'All tests show that the FX7 spray does the job.' The A-Z Cleaning managing director and former caterer, said: 'Bleach is well known for killing 99.9 per cent of everything, but that means for every 1,000 germs killed, one survives and looking at all the billions of germs everywhere, that is quite a lot. 'When preparing food or cleaning hospitals, it needs to be cleaner. 'A lot of scientific work has gone into creating this, but we are confident it is the best of its type. 'Our product is simply spray on and wipe off, then it is done.'
A study from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham has highlighted a hitherto overlooked source of the killer super-bug MRSA. It has long been thought that environmental hygiene was the key to curbing the spread of the organism and infection-control staff across the country have been charged with ensuring that wards are kept clean, staff are meticulous over hand washing and wherever possible incidents of airborne infection are minimised.
Until recently however one vital piece of the jigsaw has been missing, but at long last there is hard medical evidence to show that the privacy curtains surrounding patients’ bed are an important but overlooked source of outbreaks. The Department of Microbiology at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth hospital in collaboration with local partners has produced a report that conclusively proves a link between dirty curtains and MRSA.
The results of this controlled study show that ‘The curtains surrounding the patients beds were the predominant source with comparatively high counts of organisms found’. The news comes as no surprise to the manufacturers of the world’s first disposable and fully recyclable curtains, Birmingham based Marshall Contracts. For many years they have supplied the NHS with conventional fabric curtains but Chief Executive Laurence Marshall says, ‘I realised long ago that curtains aren’t usually changed very often and strongly believed they were responsible. Our new disposable curtain can be changed up to a hundred times quicker than a conventional curtain, has a coating that actually kills MRSA and has been proven to be more cost effective than using conventional curtains.
When calculating costs hospitals often overlook the astronomical price of treating somebody who has acquired the infection and needs expensive drugs and extra time in hospital, they also appear to forget about the human misery and loss of life. I’m pleased that my hunch has been confirmed by the report, but despite take-up by over two hundred forward thinking hospitals, we are still a long way from being able to promise a fresh set of curtains for every new patient.’
Marshall’s ambition, now the evidence is in the public domain, is to convince hospital infection control teams that ‘a fresh set of curtains for every new patient’ is both realistic and achievable, with the result that another major element of the fight against MRSA is firmly in place.
For further information contact Laurence Marshall direct on 07800 685771 or on 0121 783 5777 email info@marshallcontracts.co.uk
Source of evidence: - Carbapenem-reistant Acinetobacter and role of curtains in intensive care units – Journal of Hospital Infection P Lambert – Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Sciences at Aston University. J Bion – Department of Anaesthetics & Intensive Care I Das, D Hill, M Noy & T Elliott – Department of Microbiology. Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham UK
Link: Press Release: Kalamazoo:
Kalamazoo Security Print, which has the majority of UK NHS trusts as its customers, can offer a solution to help limit potential incidents of cross contamination by using a brand new technology which kills microbes on contact. Kalamazoo Security Print’s Product & Development Manager, Maureen Bott says “We are now able to integrate an additive into our products used within the health care industry which helps break the transmission paths of the disease, killing microbes on contact. “After being independently tested and verified by the Medical Institute for Microbiology at the University of Milan, the Virology Institute at the University of Catania, the SIK Institute in Gothenburg and LawLabs in Birmingham, clinical research showed that 99.9 per cent of bacteria are killed within 24 hours. The additive has also been approved and listed with the EPA, FDA and the EU biocide Directive.” This additive has great potential and gives numerous materials such as moulding compounds, thermoplastics, laminates and paints an immediate antibacterial effect.
Link: HubMed Abstracts.
The study aimed to examine the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the environment and its relationship to patients' acquisition of MRSA.Design. A prospective study was conducted in a 9-bed intensive care unit for 14 months. At every environmental screening, samples were obtained from the same 4 sites in each bed space. Patients were screened at admission and then 3 times weekly. All environmental and patient strains were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.Results. MRSA was isolated from the environment at every environmental screening, when both small and large numbers of patients were colonized. Detailed epidemiological typing of 250 environmental and 139 patient isolates revealed 14 different pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles, with variants of EMRSA-15 being the predominant type. On only 20 (35.7%) of 56 occasions were the strains isolated from the patients and the strains isolated from their immediate environment indistinguishable. There was strong evidence to suggest that 3 of 26 patients who acquired MRSA while in the intensive care unit acquired MRSA from the environment.Conclusions. This study reveals widespread contamination of the hospital environment with MRSA, highlights the complexities of the problem of contamination, and confirms the need for more-effective cleaning of the hospital environment to eliminate MRSA.
Link: News from Tristel
The Tristel Duo sporicidal surface disinfection system was tested against five representative strains of epidemic methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (EMRSA) and human norovirus. Tristel Duo comprises disinfectant-impregnated wipes used with a chlorine dioxide foam dispensed immediately before use. A surface test methodology was used to evaluate the efficacy of the system against five common strains of EMRSA and the accepted Norovirus surrogate, feline calicivirus. Test data indicate that Tristel Duo effectively reduces each of the five global EMSRA strains by least 5(log)10 following the recommended contact time of 30 seconds. For the Norovirus surrogate, infectivity was completely removed to the level of sensitivity of the assay used.
Link: Hospital SuperBug Found on Mobile Phones.
A study conducted at the Craigavon Area Hospital Group Trust in Northern Ireland has found that the majority of mobile phones used by doctors and other health workers are carrying infectious pathogens, including on some phones the deadly hospital "superbug", MRSA. In total, just over 96% of phones demonstrated evidence of bacterial contamination, and 15 (14.3%) of the mobile phones sampled grew bacteria that are known to cause nosocomial infection.
While there is reason for concern, there is almost no chance of patents being infected from the mobile phones as health workers do not generally hand their phones to patients to use.
Link: BBC NEWS
But perhaps one of the most innovative changes at the £700,000 practice will go unnoticed by most patients - its door handles. Protection Dr David Acorn and partner Dr John Coffin were so worried about cross-contamination that they decided to use special door handles and fittings designed to help prevent the spread of infection. The new fittings feature "Microban", an anti-microbial protection, which is built into the material to prevent it being rubbed off with wear and tear. We should be building professional healthcare buildings from materials which are not just functional but can actively protect against the spread of disease Dr David Acorn Dr Acorn said building a new surgery had given him and his partner the chance to go that extra step in trying to ensure they were doing all they could to protect their 3,500 patients. "It seems to be a good way of protecting against the spread of certain types of infection. "The handles on our doors have the antiseptic built in so that the germs will get killed pretty quickly." He said regular hand-washing would remain a priority, but said the handles, not yet proven to work, could help provide additional protection.
Link: ABCD Directory.
Sterishield, a revolutionary new product from Dulux Trade, is a washable emulsion that inhibits bacterial populations such as MRSA. The unique formulation contains a non-hazardous silver bactericide and has been proven to work under real life conditions. Sterishield dramatically accelerates the decline of bacterial populations within 12 hours of contamination. This is a demonstrable improvement over standard paint where bacteria can survive 48 hours or longer. Silver bactericides are already used in a wide range of medical applications and the anti-bacterial properties of Sterishield are further stimulated by washing or scrubbing.
Link: Paperloop.com
Garnett is set to introduce a paper to help combat methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant bacteria, blamed for 20% of deaths in UK hospitals from infections.
Link: Response Source
Microban� encourages those responsible for patient health to consider antimicrobial technology in the war against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
Microban�, a producer of antimicrobial technology, is urging Britain’s healthcare decision makers to pay more attention to the built environment when considering measures to reduce incidence of HAIs, such as MRSA.
Today, 19.01.06, Microban� will launch a charter for healthcare building design. The charter advocates additional infection control measures that should become standard practice during construction or refurbishment of healthcare facilities. The launch of the charter follows comments addressed to an NHS audience by Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for Health, in 2005. She commented, "I find it extraordinary that we have higher standards for hygiene in our food factories than our hospitals".
Charles Strobel, Managing Director of Microban� Europe comments, “As with the food hygiene industry, we recognise that no one measure in isolation is going to overcome the problem. The government has introduced a number of worthy initiatives to improve hospital hygiene, but whether they’ll prove effective remains to be seen. In the meantime, HAIs continue to affect patients, undermine confidence in the NHS and costs the NHS and estimated �1 billion per year. We believe that more can be done to mitigate the risk of healthcare associated infections”.
He continues, “When we look at theories that explain HAIs, it is clear that the problem arises from poor personal and environmental hygiene. Even when the most effective hygiene protocols are in place, HAIs will still pose a threat because human error will inevitably occur. The risk of infection may be mitigated by building healthcare environments from Microban� antimicrobial materials that actively reduce the number of pathogens that come into contact with them and present minimal additional cost”.
Microban� is a process that allows antimicrobial active ingredients to be incorporated directly into a polymer’s molecular structure. Any product made from this polymer will have antimicrobial protection. This means that when used in conjunction with good hygiene practice, Microban� works in-between cleanings to inhibit the growth of a broad spectrum, of bacteria, mould, mildew and fungi for the lifetime of the product. Non-polymer materials such as metal can easily be encapsulated in a Microban� protected polymer “skin”.
Link: MacDermid Autotype.
More than 99% MRSA kill rate for Autotex AM
Hard-coated polyester film from MacDermid Autotype incorporating Microban antimicrobial protection has undergone extensive testing by one of the UK's leading independent, analytical testing bodies
The antimicrobial properties of the new substrate were tested against a number of harmful bacteria, including MRSA and E coli 0157. For both of these bacteria, Autotex AM with Microban antibacterial protection demonstrated a kill rate of more than 99%. Using standard test protocols that simulated real life cleaning regimes, Autotex AM with Microban antibacterial protection was subjected to a period representing 15 years of usage.
Link: Biocidal cleanser launched.
Sheffield-based CAIRN TECHNOLOGY has teamed up with Amity International from Barnsley to fight “superbugs” such as MRSA, SARS, HIV, and Chinese Bird Flu. Virusolve , a new biocidal cleanser developed by Amity International and distributed by Cairn Technology, will kill superbugs at room temperature in less than a minute.
Recent tests by respected independent laboratories including the Hospital Infection Research Laboratory, Lawlabs, Chemsol Labs and Texcell Labs (Paris) have shown that Virusolve is effective against a range of bacteria. Further tests have shown the product to be even more effective against the Hepatitis B and vaccinia viruses, with additional studies being carried out all the time to see just how effective Virusolve can be. The product represents a step forward in the fight against HAIs as it has the power to render them incapable of reproduction.
Amity International chose to team up with Cairn Technology as it knew of the company’s reputation for providing products and services that dramatically improve performance where chemicals are handled. It also has close working relationships with many major NHS Trusts up and down the country to improve health and safety in the healthcare environment.
Link: ShareCast - News you can use.
Bioquell soared today after the bio-decontamination technology and testing services group announced details of a successful 'superbug' eradication trial and updated on trials of its new wound healing technology.
The trial aimed to determine Bioquell’s success in eliminating bacteria, including the antibiotic resistant 'superbugs' Clostridium difficile (C.diff), MRSA and VRE.
Results showed that the company’s technology is highly effective at eliminating C.diff, MRSA and VRE from the hospital environment, including from sensitive electronic medical equipment.
Preliminary data suggests it may also help reduce the number of patients' exposed to and becoming ill from C.diff.
The technology is still being used in the US trial hospital in an effort to study further its impact on the frequency of C diff. Further data on C.diff patient infection rates will be presented next year.
Chief executive Nick Adams said, “We are delighted that the results of the six month Bioquell trial in a US hospital have shown such encouraging results.”
“The new strain of Clostridium difficile is creating major problems for healthcare providers around the world - and we expect that the results presented at the ICAAC conference will create significant interest from hospitals in the US and elsewhere.”
In addition, Bioquell said it continues to achieve good results from its new and novel wound healing technology which is currently undergoing clinical trials in the UK.
It expects academic experts involved in the trials will present data next year at medical conferences which will demonstrate that Bioquell’s technology reduces significantly the time taken to heal certain wounds.
Link: News from Tristel
Tristel's new Duo wipes system offers convenient, highly effective bactericidal, fungicidal and sporicidal cleaning for use on all general hospital hard surfaces and non-invasive medical devices. It is effective against a wide range of organisms including clostridium difficile, says the company. Effective, convenient, and easy to use, Tristel Duo is designed to provide a readily available means of rapid decontamination and is active against organisms including MRSA, clostridium difficile, bacillus subtilis, mycobacterium tuberculosis, acinetobacter baumanii and norovirus.
It has applications in diverse areas, including for work surfaces, dressing trolleys, beds and mattress covers, instrument tables, monitor cases, control panels and keyboards.
The time required to kill all the organisms that Tristel Duo comes into contact with is just 30 seconds.
Tristel Duo is a two part system.
It comprises the Duo bactericidal and virucidal wipe, which can be boosted by the application of the Tristel Duo sporicidal foam.
This delivers chlorine dioxide directly to the surface, as and when required.
Link: British Nursing .
Scottish scientists at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh have discovered that a kitchen sponge could hold the key to wiping out the deadly superbug MRSA.
The scientists are developing powerful anti-MRSA antibiotics produced by bacteria discovered on seaweed in Scotland.
But tests show the microbes only feel at home on the surface of a particular brand of kitchen sponge scourer.
Now researchers want to find the maker of the polyurethane scouring pad - on sale in 89p packs of eight at Morrisons supermarkets.
Brian Austin, a professor of microbiology at Heriot-Watt University, said: "We want to speak to the manufacturer to find out what's special about these sponges.
Link: ABCD Directory.
Sterishield, a revolutionary new product from Dulux Trade, is a washable emulsion that inhibits bacterial populations such as MRSA. The unique formulation contains a non-hazardous silver bactericide and has been proven to work under real life conditions. Sterishield dramatically accelerates the decline of bacterial populations within 12 hours of contamination. This is a demonstrable improvement over standard paint where bacteria can survive 48 hours or longer. Silver bactericides are already used in a wide range of medical applications and the anti-bacterial properties of Sterishield are further stimulated by washing or scrubbing.
Link: Scotsman.com Business
A TRAINING centre featuring a mock-up hospital ward is being created by a company in Bonnyrigg to help cleaners cope with the rise of the MRSA superbug. The centre, the first of its kind in Scotland, will provide cleaners with thorough training in how to ensure the places where the bug can lurk, in beds and equipment, are properly disinfected. And the company behind the facility, RFA-Em, is hoping it will become a centre of excellence used by contract cleaning businesses across the country. The newly-opened �150,000 training centre, which is based at the company's head office at the Butlerfield Estate in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, already features mock-up offices, bathrooms, kitchens and science labs, reflecting the diverse range of contracts handled by the environment management company.
Link: Hospital trials for bug-buster.
SUPERBUG-BUSTER Byotrol is being tested in an NHS hospital in the fight against the deadly MRSA virus. The Manchester biocide technology company, a spin-off from Collyhurst paintmaker HMG, has started a four-month trial at a major hospital using the product - which was discovered by accident. Byotrol is claimed to be effective against a variety of bacteria, algae, fungi and viruses, including Sars, Norwalk TP, hepatitis, legionella and E.Coli. If it is proved to be a winner in the front-line battle against killer bugs such as MRSA, its potential could be huge.
Link: Local News
A HOSPITAL is waging war on deadly infections such as the MRSA superbug by stripping away any potential sites for incubation – including carpets. Health chiefs are planning to spend �52,000 upgrading the main entrance at Chesterfield Royal Hospital . It is part of plans to help fight hospital-acquired infections – from diarrhoea and sickness to the more serious MRSA. Among other things, hospital chiefs have opted to replace carpets with vinyl flooring. They say not only will this be easier to keep clean throughout the day and therefore keep the risk of infection down – it will also be of enormous benefit to wheelchair users, who often find the carpet difficult to negotiate. New wipe-clean seating will also be installed alongside redecorated walls and upgraded fire doors.
Link: News from MacDermid Autotype.
Autotex AM, the new hard-coated polyester film from MacDermid Autotype that incorporates Microban Antimicrobial protection, has undergone extensive testing by one of the UK's leading independent, analytical testing bodies. The antimicrobial properties of the new substrate were tested against a number of harmful bacteria, including MRSA and E.Coli 0157. For both of these bacteria, Autotex AM with Microban antibacterial protection demonstrated a kill rate of more than 99%. Using standard test protocols that simulated real life cleaning regimes, Autotex AM with Microban antibacterial protection was subjected to a period representing 15 years of usage.
Link: Turning The Tables On The Superbug (from Bishop's Stortford Citizen).
PRINCESS Alexandra Hospital has more than 200 new easy clean over-bed tables, thanks to a determined patient who would not give up the fight against MRSA. Terry Payne, 59, from Waltham Abbey, was undergoing treatment at the Harlow hospital five years ago when he noticed the over-bed tables trapped food residues and were a breeding ground for germs. He became more concerned when he learned that two patients, including a friend, had contracted the MRSA superbug at the hospital and determined to improve things for himself and other patients. He joined Link, a hospital-based user group, giving him a better route into the decision-makers and gained support from staff - but agreement to purchase new tables still did not come. Last year he became a member of the Princess Alexandra Hospital Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) forum, and said: "Things started to speed up. "Once I joined the forum the Princess Alexandra NHS Trust started to take more notice. You could see the muck under the wooden rim of the old tables. Every time we spotted them it was reported to the chief executive. We were dedicated as a forum." Mr Payne was invited to join the hospital purchasing team and had an input into the choice of the new table design. It was agreed that the whole hospital should be re-equipped with the preferred design of table.
Link: Are we going overboard with sanitization?.
Doctors go into this year's cold, flu and pneumonia season with two new weapons just approved by the Food and Drug Administration to combat problems with antibiotic resistance. Dr. Stuart B. Levy, a microbiology expert at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, says our culture has gone overboard in the battle against germs. He says by over-sanitizing, we're turning our homes into places where highly resistant bacteria can thrive. Some experts say MRSA -- a life-threatening antibiotic-resistant staph infection common in jails and locker rooms that has caused some deaths -- is a wake-up call that common bacteria are becoming bullet-proof. It's not good to be too clean, says Levy, an outspoken critic of antibacterial products except in hospitals and nursing homes. Everywhere else, soap and water is good enough, he says.
Link: All Headline News
A new study by University of Arizona Microbiology Professor Chuck Gerba - "The Germ Doctor" - ranks the TV remote control as the highest carrier of bacteria in a patient's hospital room compared to the toilet bowl handle, bathroom door and call buttons. Even more disturbing is the detection of Methicillin-Resistent Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) on the remote control. As antibiotic- resistant bacteria, MRSA is a leading cause of infection and death in hospitals. The total average bacteria found at various hospital room sites were 91, compared to the average for the remote control at 320. Sites tested included: the hand rail, call button, tray table, door knob in/out, bath door out, faucet handle and flush handle.
Link: Guardian Unlimited
..... also worth mentioning that Dr Chris sells disinfectant!
A while ago an investigative television journalist friend rang me up. "I just went undercover to take some MRSA swabs for my filthy hospital superbug scandal," he said, "but they all came back negative. What am I doing wrong?" Always happy to help, I suggested he swab somewhere else instead. Ten minutes later, I heard from him again. He'd just spoken to a tabloid health journalist who had told him which lab to use: "the lab that gives positive results when others do not" was how he described it to me. What lab was this? Step up Northants-based Chemsol Consulting, and director Christopher Malyszewicz. If you see an MRSA superbug positive swab scandal, the chances are it came from his lab.
Link: Technology Provides Plastics Products Disease Fighting Protection.
Polygiene technology incorporates silver ions into contact surfaces of plastics and other products where they attack all bacteria and viruses. The Hilton Milan is the first hotel in the world to introduce the safeguard of toilet seats incorporating Polygiene technology. As part of its ongoing pursuit to provide clientele with a safe as well as comfortable environment, the Hilton Milan has outfitted the bathrooms of its 319 suites and executive rooms with toilet seats made using Polygiene technology. Developed by Perstorp AB, a world leader in niche specialty chemicals and materials markets, Polygiene is an antibacterial and antiviral technology that breaks the transmission path of disease by killing bacteria, yeasts and viruses on contact. Its effectiveness has been proven against a range of pathogens including Escheria Coli and the pervasive MRSA superbug. Moreover, products incorporating Polygiene are the first known to kill the SARS virus on contact.
Link: News from Bedford and Soar.
Launched less than 12 months ago, Bedfords Quartermaster Active anti-bacteriological shelf coating has now received a Sanitized test certificate confirming its effectiveness against MRSA. The company has always claimed the active coating would eliminate 99% of all surface Bacteria within 24 hours and, with the current concerns relating to the control of MRSA, felt it necessary to confirm that Quartermaster Active did just that with this specific bacterium. The independent laboratory tests by Sanitized substantiate this and indicate a strong reduction with good anti-bacterial effect, which must be good news for all involved with MRSA controls in hygienic environments. The coating's principal element is a silver-based agent captured in a non-organic matrix and is applied only after the shelf has been prepared and phosphated to ensure a good bond onto the metal.
Link: Response Source
Each of the ambulance research trials involved ambulances which had just come off duty. Swab testing found that every vehicle was contaminated with a variety of pathogens, including bacteria and fungi. After this swabbing, the trials evaluated current cleaning practices and then compared them to the STERIS VHP decontamination process. [5] The VHP research work was undertaken with full co-operation from NHS bodies after the Department of Health’s Rapid Review Panel gave regulatory approval for ‘in-use’ trials in February 2005. [6] Each vehicle was tested for contamination after cleaning using the current cleaning method of wiping down the interior with liquid disinfectants. Swabbing results after traditional wipe down cleaning indicated that the current disinfection practices had little effect in removing bacterial contamination from the vehicle. The vehicles were then decontaminated using STERIS’s VHP decontamination technology. Test results proved that no bacterial surface contaminants remained following the STERIS VHP decontamination process and all equipment contained within the vehicles remained fully functional. Richard Diment, Chief Executive of Ambulance Service Association, commented: “Reducing Healthcare Acquired Infections is a priority for all parts of the NHS including ambulance services. The trials show the importance of infection control in ambulances and that VHP is a highly effective product for decontamination. The ASA will continue to work with our partners, including STERIS, to ensure that ambulances are a safe environment for all patients and staff.”
Link: PrintWeek.
Carrs Products has developed a coating that can kill the MRSA superbug on paper, which has been identified as a prime carrier of the bacteria. Biacticap, the coating developed by the Midlands-based paper coater has been found to be 99.8% effective in preventing the spread of the superbug. Carrs sales and marketing director Tony Davies said Biacticap has the ability to be used on most flexible substrates such as paper, and even nurses gowns, face masks and textiles as well as bed linen. Biacticap has been in development by Carrs for the past 10 months, and is set to be reviewed by the NHS rapid review panel in the next few months. It could also be developed further to prevent the spread of other disease-causing bacteria such as e-coli and listeria. Davies anticipated there would be considerable interest in the product, and said the firm had 40,000 tonnes of coating capacity to meet potential demand. The Journal of Hospital Infection had identified paper, used for doctor's notes and patients records, as an excellent host and carrier for all types of diseases, and could even spread the disease from hospitals to the general public.
Link: Health News
A team at sanitation-services company Ecolab Inc. dabbed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus onto samples of bed linen, keyboard covers and acrylic fingernails. MRSA could be detected eight weeks later on acrylic fingernails, six weeks later on computer keyboard covers and five days later on bed linens, the researchers told a meeting in Atlanta of the American Society for Microbiology. "The results of this study clearly demonstrate the need for frequent hand washing and environmental disinfection in health care settings," said researcher Kris Owens of Mendota Heights, Minnesota-based Ecolab. Staphylococcus aureus is usually harmless and very common, found on skin or in the noses of about 30 percent of people. It can cause stubborn problems such as rashes and boils and an infection is often mistaken for a spider bite.
Link: BBC NEWS
A Wiltshire hospital plans to give ward Bibles to patients to take home in order to prevent the risk of MRSA. The potential health risks of leaving Bibles or other religious literature at the side of patients' beds were raised by a Leicester health trust last week.
Link: Do bibles spread the superbug MRSA?.
Hospitals in Leicester, UK, are concerned that bibles may be exacerbating the spread of MRSA among hospital patients. Rather than having a bible in a locker next to every bed, health officials are considering storing them. Gideons International supplies UK hospitals with bibles (as well as the military, shipping companies, hotels and cruise liners worldwide). A Gideon International spokesperson said that idea that bibles pose a health risk is nonsense. Some people have complained saying it is a ‘politically correct' move as non-Christian's could be offended by the bible next to their beds. Hospital officials said this is not true. Religious leaders in the UK say they have never heard of any non-Christian feeling offended in such a way. Health officials say they are consulting with experts on the best way to store religious materials on the wards. It may make more health sense, they say, if the bibles are stored somewhere else. They would still be available for anyone who asked for them.
Link: BBC NEWS
Hospitals in Leicester have denied they are preparing to remove copies of the Bible from their wards. NHS trust spokesperson Anne McGregor said they were considering where to store the books and would consult staff on the possible risk of MRSA infection. But Gideons International, which distributes Bibles, said claims of a possible health risk were "nonsense". Ms McGregor denied reports that the move was prompted by concerns the Bibles might offend non-Christians.
Link: Scotsman.com
A SCOTTISH flooring manufacturer that claims its product can help the NHS in Scotland combat the superbug MRSA, has increased sales by over 13 per cent compared with last year, with the hospital sector now its fastest growing market. Kirkcaldy-based Forbo-Nairn said research has indicated that MRSA and other harmful micro-organisms cannot live or breed on its Marmoleum flooring, its brand name for linoleum. The firm, which claims to be the oldest linoleum maker in the world and is still on the same site where its business started in 1847, has just won three new hospital contracts with Radcliffe, Blackburn and Ormskirk and Southport Hospitals. When Marmoleum products were used recently, Ormskirk and Southport hospitals recorded the lowest incidents of MRSA infection in the UK. Neil Aindow, facilities manager at Ormskirk and Southport said the flooring minimises the chances of MRSA spreading.
Link: Journal of Medical Microbiology.
Many antiseptic agents are used in hygienic handwashes in the prevention of nosocomial infections by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The plasmid-borne genes qacA/B and smr confer resistance to cationic antiseptic agents in S. aureus. In this study, the susceptibilities for dyes and antiseptic agents (e.g. acriflavine, acrinol, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, chlorhexidine digluconate and alkyldiaminoethylglycine hydrochloride) of 894 isolates of MRSA collected from 11 Asian countries (South Korea, China, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Japan) between 1998 and 1999 were examined. In addition, the distributions of the antiseptic-resistance genes qacA/B and smr were studied by PCR. Among the Asian MRSA isolates 57.7 % (516/894) were acriflavine-resistant. The smr gene was detected in 31.6 % (12/38) of MRSA isolates from India but only in 1.9 % (16/856) of all the isolates from other Asian countries. MRSA with qacA/B comprised 41.6 % (372/894) of the isolates across Asia. In addition, PFGE was performed to type the MRSA and grouped the tested 30 MRSA isolates with qacA/B into 21 PFGE types. The results indicated that qacA/B is functionally the most important gene mediating antiseptic resistance in the MRSA strains of Asia and that a specific MRSA with qacA/B was not prevalent in Asia but qacA/B were widely spread among MRSA of Asia, while the geographical distribution of smr is more limited.
Link: this is aberdeen - news, entertainment, jobs, homes and cars.
Nurses were today embroiled in a row over MRSA at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Nursing staff at ARI claim they are having to clean bedside phones. They say it should be up to private firm Patientline - which takes the money from the phones - to keep them clean of superbugs. Patientline staff clean the phones during the day. But it is claimed that nurses are having to clean them at night. They say that is not their job - and they are being backed by their union. The row comes hot on the heels of the Evening Express revealing the high-cost of calls Patientline charges families to contact loved ones in hospital.
Link: this is aberdeen - news, entertainment, jobs, homes and cars.
Nurses were today embroiled in a row over MRSA at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Nursing staff at ARI claim they are having to clean bedside phones. They say it should be up to private firm Patientline - which takes the money from the phones - to keep them clean of superbugs. Patientline staff clean the phones during the day. But it is claimed that nurses are having to clean them at night. They say that is not their job - and they are being backed by their union. The row comes hot on the heels of the Evening Express revealing the high-cost of calls Patientline charges families to contact loved ones in hospital.
Link: Novapure
“The coatings, known as “photocatalytic coatings” are usually applied like a spray paint, are not toxic and are very cost-effective. The photocatalytic coating solutions have been used for years in Japan, where they were originally developed to combat air pollution, infectious microbes and soiling of exterior surfaces. When applied, the treated surface oxidizes contaminants in the presence of light. The result is a self-cleaning surface which will degrade any organic substances such as grease, oil, soot or microbes. The result is that the surface remains clean and attractive, instead of becoming soiled or faded”, adds Tseng. The coating is used in Japanese hospitals to combat disease transmission (e.g., MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, C. diff.) and reduce sickness in day care facilities and schools, as well as offices and homes. Many people with respiratory illnesses (e.g., asthma, allergies) can benefit.
Link: Response Source
A leading food scientist who has helped combat food poisoning bugs in the UK’s food industry has stated that the NHS may be missing a trick in fighting the spread of hospital superbugs such as MRSA. Malcolm Kane who has 25 years’ experience in controlling food related infection says that the NHS should now think seriously about building and equipping hospitals with the same built-in antimicrobial materials that are increasingly commonplace in food production. Malcolm Kane stated: “Currently most of the commentary is centred on better physical hospital cleaning. But physical cleaning alone may not produce the desired results. In the food industry we focused for years on better physical cleaning protocols and made steady progress – but there were still shortfalls. We achieved the best results when we also installed new hygiene technology including products containing the latest built-in antimicrobial technology.” “We have clear proof in the food industry that harmful bacteria like Listeria, Staphylococcus Aureus and Salmonella can be controlled between cleaning sessions when surfaces are appropriately protected. For example, we have shown that an untreated working surface will typically harbour 100% more bacteria per sq cm just one hour after cleaning than an antimicrobial surface will.”
Link: BBC NEWS
Old item but with interesing quote from the HPA re floors and surfaces as a transmission route
The study was partly funded by Bioquel, the company which produces the vapour cleaner. It was found only 1% of sites cleaned using the hydrogen peroxide vapour remained contaminated with MRSA, compared to 66% of those cleaned using detergents. Potential impact Writing in the Journal of Hospital Infection, Professor French, head of the infection department at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, said: "The distribution of the contamination and the isolation of multiple strains suggest that the environment may be an important source of hospital cross-infection." But he stressed researchers now need to look at whether having cleaner surfaces reduces the number of patients infected with MRSA. "The research has demonstrated that used in certain situations, for example where we can seal off a side room which has been occupied by a patient with MRSA, this technique is extremely effective in removing MRSA from equipment and surfaces. "The next - and very important - step is to understand the impact that removing MRSA from the environment might have on patient infection rates." A spokeswoman for the Health Protection Agency said: "MRSA is currently thought to be primarily transmitted to patients by hands and equipment. "The spread of MRSA and other infections on hospital wards can be limited and controlled by following good infection control procedures. "The hospital environment such as floors and furniture and are not currently considered to be a major source of MRSA transmission.
Link: Prevention Experts Stress Importance of Hand-Hygiene Compliance.
Despite the fact that hand hygiene remains the most simple and effective means of reducing the transmission of germs, many clinicians do not consistently follow hand hygiene recommendations, such as those issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/
Prevention is everyone’s business – that of healthcare providers, administrators and patients. Infection prevention experts recognize that this recent change in regulations provides still further opportunity to remind everyone about the importance of hand hygiene either by the traditional soap and water method or by the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and other organizations collaborated with the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) last year to introduce the “Speak Up” initiative, designed to encourage patients to play an active role in their healthcare by asking questions and requesting that their clinicians wash their hands before performing an examination.
Link:Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume.
We conducted a randomised, controlled trial to determine whether changing gloves at specified intervals can reduce the incidence of glove perforation and contamination in total hip arthroplasty. A total of 50 patients were included in the study. In the study group (25 patients), gloves were changed at 20-minute intervals or prior to cementation. In the control group (25 patients), gloves were changed prior to cementation. In addition, gloves were changed in both groups whenever there was a visible puncture. Only outer gloves were investigated. Contamination was tested by impression of gloved fingers on blood agar and culture plates were subsequently incubated at 37�C for 48 hours. The number of colonies and types of organisms were recorded. Glove perforation was assessed using the water test. The incidence of perforation and contamination was significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group. Changing gloves at regular intervals is an effective way to decrease the incidence of glove perforation and bacterial contamination during total hip arthroplasty.
Link: Superbug-killer in hurry for trials.
The firm is harnessing the power of ozone to change fresh air into a bacteria killer. Ozone has been known for years as an anti-bacterial, but the problem is that it is also dangerous to humans. Now Steritrox, has developed a method of using it to deep-clean, which leaves rooms safe for humans after just a short time. It says the method, using an electronically produced gas-like vapour, which bathes surfaces, including fabrics, is effective in destroying 99.99 per cent of bacteria such as listeria and E.coli, and is ideal for the food industry, making the industrial preparation of food safer and more hygienic. But research shows that it can combat MRSA says the company, a medical spin-off from the old-established Bredbury engineering company, TDA solutions, which has taken up the invention of microbiologist Alan Mole, from Worcestershire, who has more than 35 years experience in the field within the food industry. Dr Matthew Upton, a University of Manchester lecturer in microbiology working at Manchester Royal Infirmary, who has carried out laboratory tests on the process said: "It is well known that ozone can kill these bacteria, but of course it is dangerous to people. "The company has developed a novel technique which makes an area safe after it has been cleaned in this way, and it does have a lot of potential."
Link: BioCote™.
Due to the mandatory requirements for hygiene within the Healthcare arena and the potential risks associated with cross-contamination, the BioCote® technology is naturally of great importance within this sector. BioCote® provides companies and healthcare trusts within the opportunity to provide a pro-active step in the ever growing challenge of cross contamination control. Products utilising BioCote® technology are chosen on the basis of need and suitability within a chosen environment. Risk assessment is carried out by BioCote Limited microbiological staff in conjunction with users and manufacturers to ascertain the products suitability to be rendered anti-microbial. The risk assessment is in accordance with the environment in which the products are placed and the manner and level of use.
Link: BBC NEWS | Wales |
An inventor from Swansea claims he has created a device to stamp out hospital superbug MRSA - a foil-coated blanket impregnated with anti-bacterial agent. Gwyn Sullivan, 66, had the idea when his son was given a foil survival sheet to keep him warm after a marathon. He believes not only will the blanket both warm and cool patients, the agent stops any bacteria surviving on it. Mr Sullivan hopes his invention will be accepted by the Department of Health, which is looking into his claims. He worked with a Canadian pharmaceutical company to create the blanket's coating, which is a closely-guarded secret. The coating is such that the anti-bacterial agent retains its effectiveness despite the blanket being cleaned Gwyn Sullivan "The beauty of the blanket is that once it is impregnated with the anti bacterial agent no bacteria can survive on it, unlike conventional blankets which can easily become contaminated," said Mr Sullivan.
Link: ShropshireStar.com - News - Article - RSH cleaning superbug ward.
One of the main wards at the Royal Shrewsbury remained closed to new admissions today as a "deep clean" to rid it of a highly contagious strain of the MRSA superbug continued. The hospital said Ward 26 U would remain closed to new admissions until Monday after it was hit by a strain of the bug known as MRSA 16. A number of routine operations have had to be cancelled.Link: Autotype Americas, Inc..
In essence, the new film substrate combines the proven benefits of Autotex – a tough, durable surface with an ink primer on the reverse side that is receptive to a wide range of graphic inks – with the antimicrobial properties of Microban technology. This unique combination makes the substrate ideal for any surface application, such as membrane keyboards, fascia panels, wall coverings, shelf and bench tops, where durability and antimicrobial protection is required. Furthermore, Autotex AM is scratch and chemical resistant, and is capable of withstanding the rigors of every day usage and most aggressive cleaning methods.
The Microban Antimicrobial technology is incorporated into the Autotex textured hard coat during the manufacturing process, ensuring an even distribution of the antimicrobial agent throughout the texture and film surface. This effectively guarantees surface protection throughout the lifetime of the product.
Autotex AM has been extensively tested and is proven to inhibit the growth of a wide range of bacteria, fungi and moulds including MRSA, Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia Coli and Listeria Monocytogenes. The antimicrobial protection of Microban works by penetrating the cell wall of microorganisms that come into contact with the substrate surface and disrupting their cell functions, rendering them unable to function, grow or reproduce. “This is an extremely significant development for hygiene critical applications” as Emma Scowen, Industrial Product Manager for Autotype International explains, “For the first time, there is an antimicrobial protected, hard coated film substrate that is proven to kill a variety of bacteria that can, if not controlled, be easily spread to other surfaces and individuals, potentially causing infections.
Link: GMP Companies
GMP Companies, Inc., a biotechnology and medical technology health care company, announced today that its GMP Anti-Infective Solutions, Inc. subsidiary completed preliminary in vitro testing of Microbisol(TM), a new, non-alcohol based topical agent designed to prevent the spread of serious infections in hospitals, medical facilities and a broad array of health care settings. Microbisol is being developed for potential use as an antimicrobial hand wash solution, a surgical hand scrub and a patient pre-operative skin preparation product. Preclinical in vitro experiments show that the application of Microbisol almost completely (99.9999%) and persistently (up to 14 hours) kills vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The solution is also effective at persistently (up to 14 hours) killing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to near complete levels (99.999%). VRE and MRSA are responsible for some of the most serious, and sometimes lethal, hospital- acquired infections.