Monday, December 20, 2010

Preventing the Spread of Bacteria...By Design

Recent statistics show that approximately 90,000 people die each year from nosocomial (hospital-born) infections. What you may not know is that there are revolutionary products available to reduce the spread of bacteria, not only in healthcare facilities, but schools, offices and homes as well. I’ve been following several of these products over the years and don’t understand why they are not used more extensively. It’s understandable that even though there is a hospital boom, budgets are tighter due to the poor economy. But does that outweigh the cost of lives and, from a business standpoint, the legal ramifications?

For a nominal charge, Agion, a fascinating anti-microbial component, is being marketed for consumer, industrial and healthcare applications to kill bacteria. Agion is inherently “green” and based on the use of silver ions. It comes in the form of a powder and can be added to liquids, plastics and fibers that are used for everyday end products (countertops, doors, door/cabinet pulls, lighting, ductwork, cubicle curtains, wall and flooring surfaces to name a few), lasting for their useable lifetime. These products then have the ability to kill bacteria, fungus, mold and other microbes, such as SARS, MERSA, H1N1, E-Coli, Staph and many more. Imagine the difference if doors between patient rooms and corridors are laminated on both sides with a material containing this anti-microbial product and the door pulls have the same product built into the silver or brass finish. Imagine the difference if tables, countertops, hardware, etc. in pre-schools are treated similarly. Imagine that textiles and carpet in senior living communities not only contain an anti-microbial additive, but one where the ions remove odors from the air. I think you see where I’m headed. Of course, there is more to inhibiting the spread of bacteria, but this would be a good start.

Unfortunately, the solution also rests, in part, in the hands of family members, the best patient advocates of those hospitalized. So where do you find the most bacterial growth? Lighting is the number one culprit, especially night lights in patient rooms. They are usually enclosed in glass and therefore, rarely cleaned, having a build-up of heat and humidity…a perfect breeding ground. Lighting over patient beds are not far behind. If it were my loved-one in the hospital, I would be there equipped with Chlorox wipes. Another top breeding spot is the back side of the doctor’s ties. How often are ties dry cleaned anyway? It’s best for them to be left at home. Crazy as it may seem, always make sure any attendant washes their hands before getting near the patient.

Over the past several years, we have been specifying surfaces that are inherently anti-microbial, as well as solution-dyed fibers for upholstery and carpet, and textiles with Crypton, GORE, Nanotex, DuraBlock, etc. We make it a practice to continue our education, stay abreast of cutting edge products and recommend these solutions to the decision-makers. By design we have the ability to protect the health and well being of the public. Hopefully we will see a drop in hospital-acquired infections in years to come.

No comments:

Post a Comment