The general public is growing increasingly aware of the risk that MRSA and other resistant bacteria pose to their health. The healthcare industry bears the responsibility of ensuring that public safety and health is protected.
Harrisburg, NC (PRWEB) September 15, 2014
Studies have shown that nationwide, nearly two million people contract infections in hospitals every year, and roughly 100,000 die from them (1). In recent years, healthcare facilities have gained notoriety for increased infection-related illnesses including MRSA – an ailment historically common among people with weakened immune systems, but gaining traction among otherwise healthy children and adults. Clearstream, LLC, a diversified provider of environmentally safe antimicrobial products and services, says that the serious risks posed by MRSA infections make advanced sanitization technology and hygiene methods essential to protecting public health. Clearstream utilizes sophisticated application protocols and advanced long-term static antimicrobial technologies throughout the U.S. in an effort to reduce the spread of bacterial and viral contaminants.
According to a previous study, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital was able to reduce MRSA by 90% in the medical ICU’s (2) – a result which Clearstream officials say can be mirrored in hospitals nationwide by standardizing not only the use of antimicrobial technologies designed to provide long-term environmental protection, but additionally by screening incoming patients and visitors for MRSA and other contagious illnesses as a critical method of isolating high-risks and allowing for the proper care and monitoring once a patient is admitted. Combining the two works to provide a synergistic approach in the reduction of infectious disease, per Clearstream CEO Jim Praechtl, who, in addition to the above, suggests the following tips towards preserving the cleanliness and integrity of healthcare facilities:
- Hygiene is first and foremost the single greatest game changer in fighting bacterial and viral infections. Simple but thorough hand washing by doctors, nurses, lab techs and other healthcare professionals is a must. Patients should have their hands cleaned more often, as well. This concept should be mandated for visitors to hospitals, too.
- Cleaning, disinfection and sanitization protocols need to be readdressed, modified and revamped to assure greater compliance from the responsible parties. This needs to be enforced in all aspects of the healthcare setting from lobbies, waiting rooms, treatment rooms, testing and diagnostic spaces, administrative, emergency, surgical, post-operative, intensive care, nursing stations, etc.
Just taking patient rooms into account, Praechtl says that current cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing protocols are typically carried out only upon the discharging of the patient and prior to a new admission moving in. Once the patient is in the room there are only cursory sanitizing procedures that are performed on and around a patient’s lavatory fixtures. That leaves every other contact surface beginning with the entry door and moving throughout the patient’s room unaddressed during that patient's stay. One of the reasons disinfection is avoided during the patient’s stay is to ensure that potentially harmful chemicals or VOC’s are not released into the patient’s space which is understandable. However, that leaves the at-risk surfaces or high-touch surfaces like doors, handles, monitoring equipment, call buttons, bed rails, tray tables, bedside tables, stationary furnishings, walls, door frames, computer touch screens, etc. unprotected.
- Cut down on the use of Bleach. The use of Bleach is widespread because it is relatively inexpensive and works well against most pathogenic microorganisms including Clostridium Difficile (c-diff). However, like with all disinfecting biocides or sanitizers, these product technologies lack residual efficacy once the cleaning procedure is completed. Assuming that the cleaning protocols are strictly adhered to and the procedure is performed according to directions and nothing is missed, bio loading can begin to occur within seconds or minutes after the cleaning process is completed. In the case of bleach, because of its highly caustic properties it degrades the surfaces it is applied to which in turn only exacerbates the problem by creating more surface area for microorganisms to latch onto.
“The general public is growing increasingly aware of the risk that MRSA and other resistant bacteria pose to their health. The healthcare industry bears the responsibility of ensuring that public safety and health is protected,” said Praechtl. “Clearstream can make a difference by demonstrating the efficacy of our technology and becoming a viable part of the overall solution in infectious disease control by reducing the risk of surface transmission on at risk surfaces between scheduled cleaning protocols.”
Clearstream’s non-leaching, non-toxic and environmentally safe static antimicrobial technology (mPale) is not consumed by the microorganism, but instead delivers a physical or mechanical disruption of the cellular activity and will not promote mutations or adaptive strains to form. This technology is safe for patients, doctors, nurses, visitors and healthcare staff and will not further complicate a patient’s care.
mPact, Clearstream’s service division, offers a two-step protective solution consisting of EPA- and FDA-registered products:
1. mPerial® Detergent/Disinfectant provides sanitization and disinfection that eliminate a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi and viruses, and is proven effective against, but not limited to, Norovirus (Norwalk virus), MRSA, HIV-1, and Vancomycin intermediate resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA). mPerial, with its grime-removing and disinfecting properties, is the first step in the mPact protocol.
2. mPale® Antimicrobial with ÆGIS Microbe Shield® is a surface protection technology that renders offending microbes inactive, while doing so safely. Its unique design allows the formula to bond with virtually all surfaces, and provides a non-leaching, non-toxic and environmentally-safe long-term protection.
Clearstream offers a wide range of EPA registered products and approved services dedicated to reducing cross contamination of harmful bacteria and viruses such as MRSA, Staph, H1N1 and more.
For more information about Clearstream’s products and services, visit http://www.thinkclearstream.com.
About Clearstream, LLC:
Clearstream is a multi-dimensional and diversified provider of products and services that combine multiple disciplines. Clearstream’s environmentally-safe, corrective and long-term protective solutions employ advanced antimicrobial formulations in the fight against microbial cross-contamination and surface degradation. The company is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has partner-run operations in Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. For more information, visit http://www.thinkclearstream.com.
1. O'Connor, Anahad. "Winning the MRSA Battle in Hospitals." Winning the MRSA Battle in Hospitals Comments. 29 May 2013. Web. 28 Aug. 2014. http://tinyurl.com/kya89vb.
2. McCaughey, Betsy. New Research & Compelling Economic Data in Support of Infection Prevention. 2007, Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths (RID). site.pall.com/pdf/McCaughey_Presentation.pdf