With increased efforts to crack down on infection rates and improve infection control and prevention, infection control companies are increasingly seeing the need for innovative solutions. Here, Lynda Lurie, associate director of marketing for Clorox Healthcare, comments on innovations in infection control and the state of the practice in healthcare settings today.
Note: Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Question: How are companies innovating to better meet the needs of hospitals for infection control and prevention?
LL: Companies such as ours are always looking at emerging trends to develop new and more effective solutions. With approximately 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections occurring in U.S. hospitals each year, resulting in 99,000 deaths and an estimated $20 billion in healthcare costs,[1] it is an area that has become top of mind in all aspects of our work….Many companies are beginning to put greater emphasis on infection prevention products and equipment for use in the healthcare environment. This is a trend that will only continue to grow, especially as the U.S. population ages and puts a greater strain on our country’s healthcare facilities.
Innovation is an important part of The Clorox Company’s century-long legacy, and Clorox Healthcare is committed to helping healthcare facilities fight the spread of HAIs, including growing threats posed by Clostridium difficile, norovirus and other multidrug-resistant organisms, by developing product solutions and educational materials based on evidence-based practices and research.
Q: What is the area in which hospitals demonstrate the greatest need for more infection control solutions?
LL: The healthcare environment has changed dramatically in recent years, most notably due to government healthcare reform, which includes mandates to reduce HAI rates and outbreaks. This has left healthcare professionals in search of more guidance on infection control practices to help them better protect patients and address business concerns.
Through our experience, we’ve found that standard cleaning and disinfecting practices are an integral part of any infection control program to keep HAIs at bay, as dangerous pathogens can be found beyond patient isolation rooms and include the entire facility. Still, healthcare professionals often struggle with implementing all the necessary infection control steps. A recent Infection Control Today survey found that 56 percent of infection preventionists spend more time than in previous years trying to boost staff compliance with infection prevention best practices. This underscores how important it is to ensure the staff is well-educated on infection prevention protocols and that compliance is reinforced. Healthcare professionals need to understand how critical their role is in preventing the spread of infections and why it’s important to perform these tasks properly.
Q: What kinds of infection control innovations are we seeing now, compared to 10 years ago?
LL: With our growing knowledge of how pathogens are transmitted within healthcare facilities, the healthcare community is seeking solutions that can help limit the spread of healthcare-associated infections. In response, companies are focusing increasingly on technologies that go beyond standard hard-surface disinfecting practices. One area where we’ve identified an unmet need is in soft surfaces, such as privacy curtains and waiting room chairs.
Studies show that 92 percent of hospital privacy curtains are contaminated one week after laundering[2], yet 37 percent of facilities report that they only launder privacy curtains when they are visibly soiled.[3] If left unattended, contaminated soft surfaces can undermine a healthcare facility’s infection control protocols and pose infection risks for patients, staff and visitors.
Clorox was among the first companies to release an EPA-approved product designed to clean hard and soft surfaces.* Clorox Healthcare® Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Spray and Clorox Healthcare® Citrace® Hospital Disinfectant & Deodorizer kill bacteria on soft surfaces in 30 seconds.
Another example of infection control innovations is ultraviolet (UV-C) technology. Clorox Healthcare recently announced a new venture with Ultraviolet Devices, Inc. (UVDI) to combine the power of manual surface disinfection with UV-C technology for optimum prevention. The Clorox Healthcare™ Optimum-UV™ System offers a more comprehensive disinfecting approach to inactivate dangerous and persistent pathogens, including C. difficile and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, adding an extra layer of protection in the fight to help keep patients and staff free of infections.
Q: What has been the greatest infection control success of the past decade? The greatest area for innovation? The greatest area for improvement?
LL: It may be hard to believe, but just 10 years ago ready-to-use disinfectant wipes…were not a common practice in the healthcare industry. Now, most facilities rely on these types of products to help curb the spread of infections due to their efficacy, fast kill times and ease of use.
In fact, a recent study published in the March 2014 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control showed that staff compliance significantly increased when using ready-to-use disinfecting wipes compared to a traditional cloth and bucket method of disinfecting. Ready-to-use wipes also saved time, translating to a time-related cost savings of $38.58 per employee per day.[4]
Companies like Clorox Healthcare are building on the successes of the past decade to determine how a comprehensive approach to infection prevention can be better achieved through effective product innovations and new technologies. These advancements include greater emphasis on traditionally overlooked areas like soft surfaces and the added benefit of room decontamination with UV-C devices.
One area where we can and should do more is in compliance. Even the best products can’t stop the spread of infection if they are not used properly. As I mentioned before, it’s important to ensure that the staff is well-educated on infection prevention protocols and that compliance is reinforced. Healthcare professionals need to understand how critical their role is in preventing the spread of infections and why it’s critical that they perform these tasks correctly.
Moving forward, product innovations, in tandem with enhanced education, will continue to play an important role in providing solutions for healthcare facilities’ unmet needs.
More Articles on Infection Control & Clinical Quality:
Physicians' Perspective on Unnecessary Care: 8 Survey Findings
Patient Safety Toolkit: Hand Hygiene Edition
Most Common HAIs: 25 Bacteria, Viruses Causing Infection
[1] Klevens, R.M., Edwards, J.R., Richards Jr., C.L., Horan, T.C., Gaynes, R.P., Pollock, D.A., Cardo, D.M. “Estimating Health Care-Associated Infections and Deaths in U.S. Hospitals, 2002.” Public Health Reports. March/April: Volume 122 (2007).
[2] Ohl, M., Schweizer, M., Graham, M., Heilmann, K., Boyken, L., Diekema, D. “Hospital privacy curtains are frequently and rapidly contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria.” American Journal of Infection Control 40.10 (2012): 904-6.
[3] DeAngelis, D. L., Khakoo, R., DeAngelis, D. L. “Hospital Privacy Curtains: Cleaning and Changing Policies - Are We Doing Enough?” American Journal of Infection Control 41.6 (2013): S33.
[4] Wiemken, T.L., Curran, D.R., Pacholski, E.B., Kelley, R.R., Abdelfattah, R.R., Carrico, R.M., Ramirez, J.A. “The value of ready-to-use disinfectant wipes: Compliance, employee time, and costs.” American Journal of Infection Control 42.3 (2014): 329-330.
*100% polyester and 100% cotton. Soft surface claim has been registered by the U.S. EPA and may not be available in all 50 states. Please check with your sales representative for updates in your state.