We are all fatigued from the COVID pandemonium, but if you think that those very bad bugs that frequent hospitals and health settings have been away on a vacation, well nothing is further from the truth.
As for the COVID Pandemic data, it is quite clear that many people are still getting infected with variants. The virus continues to evolve and will eventually become endemic to our human way of life, but for now way too many people in higher risk groups are getting very sick and often dying because of this infection.
Unfortunately, the multi-resistant-organisms (MRO’s) or more commonly described as the superbugs, are still circulating within the community. Once in the blood stream these superbugs pose an extreme risk of serious illness and death. The COVID Virus (SARS-CoV-2), is primarily spread as a respiratory pathogen, whereas the superbugs of concern in healthcare are transmitted primarily via contact, both direct and indirect.
The most alarming cause of transmission remains to be unwashed hands or gloves. Once onto an inanimate surface most of the superbugs are prolific biofilm producers. Whether the surface is a high touch object or perhaps a medical device in common usage, the biofilms on dry surfaces present a significant challenge for cleaning, removal, and disinfection. Without adequate cleaning, most disinfectants will fail. This is also true for chlorine products. Multiple internationally peer reviewed studies support these findings and highlight the low efficacy of chlorine in removing biofilms.
Independent research sponsored by Whiteley Corporation has shown some frightening realities with superbugs and biofilms. Bacteria, once settled onto a surface multiply and produce more bugs within a dry surface biofilm, those bugs will move via hands and gloves. In fact, there is a new rule called the “19 Touch Rule” *. Once you touch a dry surface biofilm laden with bacteria, those bugs will stay on your hands or gloves for up to 19 Touches!
Research from Whiteley has also shown that even though a standard culture of bacteria might have been 99.9% wiped away with a single wipe, once those same bacteria are established in a dry surface biofilm, even after 50 wipes, you have only removed just over 90% of the bacteria. So, if there are 1,000,000 bacteria in the culture to start with, even after 50 wipes there are 100,000 bacteria remaining infectious on that surface or object.
To add to the intricacy, work published has demonstrated that most disinfectants are basically incapable of removing dry surface biofilm, including chlorinated disinfectants and those containing hydrogen peroxide. Surfex® is the world’s first dry surface biofilm remover and surface disinfectant with proven scientific data. Surfex® is proven to kill Clostridioides difficile, Mycobacterium terrae (TB) and Coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
Effective in reducing MROs in the healthcare environment, Surfex® has an in-built detergent system that allows ‘all in one’ cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces. With significantly superior disinfection performance versus chlorine, Surfex® is your first choice for infection prevention in healthcare.
To view our full range of infection prevention products visit: https://www.whiteley.com.au/hospital-infection-prevention-control/
*Add in reference to “new rule”.
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Whiteley offers advice, training and practical support for all of your infection prevention, medical device reprocessing, and professional cleaning needs.
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