Monday, April 19, 2010

UNCLEAN SWEEP

UNCLEAN SWEEP


Dr. Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Medical Center and author of the “Secret Life of Germs,” says that 80 percent of all infectious diseases are spread through direct or indirect contact like kissing or touching doorknobs.

Here’s a list of the five filthiest spots in the city:

1. Touch screen ATM machines: “These machines are dirty because everyone touched the screen but nobody seems to wash them,” he says.
2. Public bathrooms: “People for some reason behave differently in these than in their own, and that’s what makes them disgusting,” he says.
3. Buses, trains and taxis: Tierno says that organisms, like fecal matter, linger in public transportation. Add a smoker, and the bacteria and germ levels skyrocket.
4. Escalators: Handrails, especially on hot and humid days, are germ covered. Plus, it’s easy to indirectly spread bacteria, particularly after you touch the handrail and touch your face.
Theaters and stadiums: Tierno says that any place in which people congregate is a breeding ground for bacteria.



Taken from the New York Post. Tuesday June 27, 2006. Pulse Health.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Study shows antibacterial wipes can spread germs.

Study shows antibacterial wipes can spread germs.

By Helen Branswell.

Antibacterial wipes used in hospitals may not be having the intended effect, a new study from Wales suggests.
The work, done by researchers from Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy, shows that the wipes do not kill high numbers of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. So if they are used on more than one surface, rather than cleaning they may just be spreading germs around.
The researchers studied three types of wipes – one containing detergent, another containing disinfectants and a third containing a natural antimicrobial product.
“We found that all three wipes suffered from the same problem, in that they were transferred high numbers (of bacteria) and in fact in most cases uncountable numbers to consecutive surfaces,” said Gareth Williams, a microbiologist who presented the findings this week at an American Society for Microbiology conference in Boston.
Williams wouldn’t name the products and it’s unclear if they are used in Canadian hospitals.
Dr. Andrew Simor, head of microbiology at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, said he wasn’t surprised by the findings.
“These disinfectants don’t kill all the bugs. You’re physically removing a layer of the organisms. But that doesn’t necessarily kill them. And so it’s easy to pick them up and transfer them to another area.”
Simor said in North America infection control recommendations would specify that a wipe should be used to clean a single area and then should be discarded.
Williams and his colleagues tested whether the three types of wipes could transfer methicillin-resistant Staph aureus – MRSA – or the antibiotic sensitive form of the bacteria from a surface inoculated with the bugs and whether the germs died if they were directly applied to the wipes.
All three types transferred MRSA, though in differing amounts. And none killed sufficient quantities of the bacteria to make reuse of a wipe safe.
Simor said that in his estimation these types of products aren’t needed in homes. “Our households are not settings where you’ve got the same risk of spread of infection (as in hospitals), he said.


Taken from the Hamilton Spectator. Thursday June 5, 2008

Monday, April 12, 2010

Private hospital rooms lower risk of C. difficile

Private hospital rooms lower risk of C. difficile.

BY ANDRE PICARD - PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTER
Article taken from the Globe and Mail - January 6, 2010

The more roommates you have during a hospital stay, the greater your risk of acquiring a dangerous infectious disease such as Clostridium difficile, according to new Canadian research.
The study, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, shows that each roommate a patient is exposed to hikes his or her risk of infection by 10 per cent.
“That is a significant risk,” Dick Zoutman, a professor of community health and epidemiology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., said in an interview. He noted that, in Canada, most hospital rooms have either two or four beds and “there is a lot of turnover,” meaning that patients are routinely and unnecessarily exposed to a lot of infectious diseases.
Dr. Zoutman said that the research provides powerful evidence that single rooms are the safest, and should be the norm. “The take-home message is that our hospitals should be designed with private rooms for everyone,” he said.
While there would be an upfront cost, Dr. Zoutman noted that, over the long term, savings would be substantial: “This research provides the direct proof that should settle the discussion about the need for private rooms.”
Earlier research showed that about 225,000 patients a year suffer from hospital-acquired infections that substantially extend their stays, and between 8,000 and 12,000 people die annually as a result.

Shared washrooms may be the culprit

The new study was conducted at Kingston General Hospital, which was has 451 in-patient beds and about 17,000 patients a year. There are 107 single-occupancy rooms, 83 double-occupancy, six triple-occupancy, plus open bay areas and specialized units such as intensive care.
The study, which began as a master’s thesis by Queen’s student Meghan Hamel, examined patient records from 2001 to 2006. The research team looked for patients who suffered from three common but dangerous infections – C. difficile, methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) – and examined those patients’ exposure to other patients.
For each roommate to whom a patient was exposed, the risk of contracting C. difficile increased 11 per cent; for MSRA, 10 percent, for VRE, 15 per cent.
The median number of roommates was just over two, but some patients had as many as 46 roommates, whether due to a lengthy stay or to a heavy rotation of roommates.
Dr. Zoutman, who is also head of infection control at Kingston General, said that although the research was conducted at only one institution, “it is pretty typical of a Canadian hospital, and there is no reason to think this situation doesn’t exist everywhere.”
The infections that were studied- C. difficile, MSRA and VRE- are not airborne, but spread by contact.
Dr. Zoutman said the likely reason that roommates increase the risk of infection is that patients share a washroom. (The mantra in infection control is: One bum per toilet.) Another likely explanation involves inadequate hand washing by patients and health professionals alike; doctors sometimes don’t wash their hands between patient visits in a single room.
“The goal should be private rooms, or at the least, semi-private rooms,” Dr. Zoutman said. “But in the meantime, there are things we can do: We should be cleaning our hands, and we should really scrutinize how we clean our hospitals.”

A lack if roommates can help prevent routine and unnecessary exposure to infectious diseases.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

A great article about steam cleaning

MBCR INTRODUCES NEW SANITIZING STEAM CLEANING SYSTEM

To ensure the cleanest possible riding environment for its customers, Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR) has announced the introduction of a new vapour sanitizing system to clean passenger coaches. This system is said to safely remove grease, grime and stains in a cost- effective manner without harming the environment.
"A sanitary, comfortable passenger coach is an essential part of a commuter's experience," said Richard A. Davey, general manager of MBCR. "The introduction of Advanced Vapour Technologies' proprietary steam vapour cleaning equipment into service will help us provide cleaner, fresher coaches for passengers during travel."
By using AVT's Mondo-Vap 2400 system, MBCR is able to utilize vapour cleaning technology, which eliminates bacteria, while using tap water. The cost effective system removes everything from old gum to stains that previously were impossible to remove. The system works on a wide range of materials, including vinyl, stainless steel and plastic type surfaces.
For more information, visit www.MBCR.net

Article taken from Sanitation Canada.