Innovation is in our DNA
At Whiteley, innovation is in our DNA. It is part of who we are, and what we have been doing since 1933. The company was formed in the context of supply chain disruption following the Great Depression. Many raw materials were scarce and expensive, so the company experimented with Australian Native Oils to deliver more effective cleaning quality in the hospitality sector.
Mr Reginald K Whiteley joined the business in the early 1970’s, and he supercharged the innovation approach. Every part of the business was subject to innovation, starting with chemistry, moving through the manufacturing processes, across the administration of the company and into the approach taken by the sales team.
Under the leadership of Reg Whiteley we introduced to Australia what were then ‘modern’ phenolic disinfectants, broad spectrum quaternary biocides, floor polish polymerisation, equipment innovations such as super-buffing, and carpet extraction equipment and consumables. As a prolific inventor Reg held many patents. His first patent saw collaboration with long-time associate and current director Mr Phillip J Morgan. His collaboration with the late Professor Yvonne Cossart took company collaboration from the commercial realm into the very serious end of tertiary & university collaboration research.
Research that is changing the world
Today that heritage puts Whiteley in a great position. Whiteley continues to innovate, collaborate and to invent. The Research & Development team has grown from Reg Whiteley plus one chemist into a talented team of ten under the guidance of Dr Greg Whiteley, who work together with an unquenchable thirst to innovate and drive science forward.
Whiteley invest more into research than any of the local or international competitors. The Whiteley team has a long list of patents, inventions and published internationally peer reviewed papers. Our research projects are changing the world, including issues such as Hepatitis Disinfectant testing, understanding the cleaning and reprocessing of endoscopes, driving advancements in wet and dry bacterial biofilms, and delivering products that meet the most vigorous testing requirements to resolve the challenges facing clinicians globally.
Advancing Knowledge In Recurrent UTIs
UroBioTx, a new division of Whiteley Corporation, is engaged in research collaborations with National leaders in clinical urology and the basic sciences to advance knowledge in recurrent UTIs.
Global burden of urinary tract infections (UTIs)
UTIs affect over 150 million people worldwide annually1. Around 60% percent of women will experience a UTI in their lifetime, and 30-40% will experience a recurrent infection2. Most UTIs develop when fecal bacteria migrate up the urethra into the bladder, causing infection (lower UTI). Symptoms can include burning when urinating, urgency, frequency, smelly or bloody urine and pelvic pain. If untreated, the infection can ascend the ureter reaching the kidneys and in worst cases cause sepsis and death.
Biofilms are a causative agent of UTIs
Biofilm formation is multi-step, involving initial attachment of bacteria to a surface (e.g. bladder lining or urinary catheter), colonisation and matrix formation. Bacteria can also invade bladder cells, forming intracellular biofilms1. Biofilms can make it harder for the immune system to fight infection, and harder for UTI antibiotics to work. Over time, protected bacteria can be released causing another infection.
Recurrent UTIs negatively impact quality of life
Recurrent UTIs are defined as >2 infections within 6 months, or >3 infections in 12 months.2 The infection could be a new infection (recurrence), however sometimes the last treatment does not completely eradicate the bacteria and the same infection relapses.3 In a subset of patients, debilitating UTI symptoms continuously persist, significantly impacting their quality of life emotionally and physically, with greater reliance on the healthcare system.
Our collaborations are researching the development and causes of recurrent UTIs, shedding light on future treatment strategies to help improve outcomes for these patients.
References:
(1) Mancuso et al 2024. Novel Antimicrobial Approaches to Combat Bacterial Biofilms Associated with Urinary Tract Infections. Antibiotics 2024, 13, 154.
(2) Kwok et al 2022. Guideline of guidelines: management of recurrent urinary tract infections in women. BJU Int 2022; 130: Supplement 3: 11–22 doi:10.1111/bju.15756
(3) Bettcher et al 2021. Urinary Tract Infection. Urinary Tract Infection [Internet]. Ann Arbor (MI): Michigan Medicine University of Michigan; 2021 May. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572335/
Collaboration and University Partnerships
We strive to deliver safer, cleaner healthcare and community environments through advanced cleaning and disinfection technologies.
We strive to deliver safer, cleaner healthcare and community environments through advanced cleaning and disinfection technologies. Our research collaborations have led to significant scientific steps forward and have extended the global understanding of issues around hygiene, infection prevention and infection control.
Whiteley still lead the world in practical infection prevention and are always looking for new and better ways to reduce the incidence of healthcare associated infections.
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Whiteley offers advice, training and practical support for all of your infection prevention, medical device reprocessing, and professional cleaning needs. You can view our product safety data sheets, technical bulletins and find out about the products from our range.