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COVID 19 Coronavirus
CategoriesInfection Prevention

EPD Solves COVID-19 Patient Handling Risk in Labor and Delivery

by sphmedicaladmin

 

The Coronavirus is impacting all levels of our society. It has been extremely challenging for hospitals and clinical staff. COVID-19 is especially affecting patients, doctors and nurses in labor and delivery units. It is also very hard on anesthesiologists in general surgery trying to perform spinal blocks. Even with personal protective equipment (PPE) nurses and doctors are having to practice and maintain safe distance from their patients. There have been instances where patients have contracted COVID-19 from labor and delivery units which is very sad. The epidural positioning device (EPD) is one piece of equipment that is very helpful and can ensure that safety is a priority during these difficult times.

The Dangerous Scenario

Mothers who are expecting and patients in need of a epidural or spinal block must be in a certain Epidural while holding nurseposition so that the anesthesiologist can safely and correctly insert a needle into their spine. During the Coronavirus epidemic this positioning can be dangerous to both the patient and the nurse and medical staff because it is normally a very hands on approach. The scenario looks like this: The patient must be bent over in a “mad cat” position where her back is arched. Many times the nurse will have the patient sit with her feet over the side of her bed and give her a stack of pillows to hold onto while she leans forward. The nurse will then place a stool down for the patient’s feet to rest on. Then, the nurse will secure the stool with her knees and feet to prevent it from moving while she holds onto the patient. The nurse must help ensure that the patient stays in a static position and must help support her body weight during the procedure. This involves a lot of touching and breathing in close proximity. In some cases nurses have been asked to hug the patient to keep them from moving. Even if the nurse and patient are wearing personal protective equipment, it can still be very dangerous. The PPE can move, tear or come off.

How Does an Epidural Positioning Device Help?

The epidural positioning device helps SPH Medical EPD 3improve patient and staff safety. The EPD takes the place of a nurse holding onto a patient in an operating room, pre-op or labor and delivery unit while the anesthesiologist performs the epidural. The use of the device prevents contact with the patient which is not a good practice during the COVID-19 crisis. The device is stand-alone and has a head cushion, chest pad, arm rests and foot plates. It is stable and allows the patient to be secure and safely positioned so the anesthesiologist can inject the epidural.

Two Types of Epidural Positioning Devices

There are two types of epidural positioning devices. There is the original, manual version and the newer, electric epidural positioning device (E-EPD). The E-EPD has a more ergonomic design that is curved and can comfortably position patients up to 600 pounds. It has buttons to push for electric movement of its parts. The head rest and footplate can be adjusted to the correct heights with the push of a button. The wheels can be locked and unlocked electronically. The arm rests and chest pad can also be electronically adjusted.

The E-EPD

During this stressful COVID-19 pandemic doctors, nurses and patients can use all of the safety and comfort they can get. The SPH Medical epidural positioning device is the answer to this challenging situation. The epidural positioning devices actually provide more comfort, stability and safety to expecting mothers requiring epidurals and surgical patients requiring spinal blocks. The EPD provides ideal patient positioning which in turn helps facilitate the anesthesiologist’s needle placement.  The use of an EPD is safer for all because there is much less contact required from nurses.  PPE is important, but it doesn’t remove the risk of manually handling patients.  The EPD is both a COVID-19 essential solution and a long term standard of care that most major hospitals are deploying.

Contact SPH Medical for more information:

COVID 19 Virus
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Effective COVID-19 Disinfection Services

by sphmedicaladmin

Clean   Disinfect   Protect

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread rapidly and has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).  In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are advising people to self isolate, practice social distancing, and cover your nose and mouth with masks (N95 Masks) or similar face coverings.  All businesses are being tasked with developing a disinfection plan to ensure a safe environment for staff and customers alike.

covid-19-cdc

According to the CDC, all business and home owners must be aware that disinfecting hard surfaces and high touch areas is critical. Surfaces that are frequently touched such as tables, toilets, doorknobs, supply carts, bed rails, and IV poles have been declared as having the biggest risk factor to transmit these pathogens by contact from the infected patient. The latest studies have proven that less than 50% of the surfaces in hospitals are properly disinfected. Of course COVID-19 disinfection can only properly occur on pre-cleaned surfaces. Once everything has been wiped down to remove dirt, debris, and biofilms, it is essential to use proper evidence based disinfection methods and protocols to ensure a thorough and complete disinfection.

Researchers from Harvard medical school have found that the COVID-19 virus can survive up to four hours on copper, 24 hours on cardboard, about two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. Conditions such as extreme heat or extreme cold may also affect the survival time of the pathogen.

We all know that bacteria and viruses exist in our hospitals and healthcare facilities and it has often been said that when you’re sick, a hospital is the last place you would want to be.  In the past disinfection and terminal cleaning practices  in healthcare facilities were good enough and that was acceptable.  Today that has changed.  Every healthcare facility and business is finding that the new normal and associated CDC guidelines to reopen their business.  Here is a quick excerpt from the CDC website

Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces including your workplace, school, home, and business will require you to:

  • Develop your plan
  • Implement your plan
  • Maintain and revise your plan

SPH Medical provides expertise and support to help businesses develop, implement and maintain their disinfection plan.   Our team has the depth of experience you need to be successful.  Contact us to talk with one of our consultants about developing your plan now.

A brief overview of SPH Medical Disinfection Technology

What is Electrostatic disinfecting?

Disinfecting with Electrostatic Technology is an effective way that completely and uniformly covers target surfaces with a disinfectant.

The spray tip of the SPH Medical Electrostatic spray nozzle is a tiny electrode which applies an electrical charge to the spray. This electrical charging causes a natural force of attraction between the spray droplets and target surface, similar to the attraction between items of clothing created by the tumbling of a clothes dryer. The charge on the droplets is small, but the force pulling the spray towards the target is up to 75 times greater than the force of gravity.  Droplets literally reverse direction and move upwards, against gravity, when passing a target surface.

This remarkable phenomenon by which the spray coats the undersides and the backsides of the spray target is known as electrostatic “wraparound.” In practical terms, this means that spray reaches the underside, the back side, and nooks or crevasses of the target surface.

 

Here you can see our Back pack Sprayer, BP1, being used to disinfect a school.

What does SPH Medical use in our Electrostatic Sprayers to Kill COVID-19?   We have a variety of Disinfectants available to us but often choose to use Noroxycdiff due to it’s 2 Minute Wet Dwell time kill.  The EPA validated disinfectant, Noroxycdiff is an extremely powerful and versatile germicidal disinfectant.  It has been proven to be effective against C. diff spores, Norovirus, and is referenced on the N-List as an approved disinfectant to kill COVID-19.  It is also safe for food service areas and is being used in restaurants and kitchens.

It is approved by the EPA and is being used effectively to destroy COVID-19 in hospitals, schools, office buildings, hotels and more. Noroxycdiff kills up to 99.9999% of pathogens in 2 minutes or less,  requires no rinsing or wiping, and it is a very cost effective way to eliminate viruses, bacteria and many other pathogens.

What are the benefits of Noroxycdiff?

  • Shorter kill time means more effective to destroy it
  • Does not contain bleach
  • Less corrosive to equipment
  • Cost-effective
  • Hospitals use it
  • It can be applied electrostatically and disinfect every little corner that may have a pathogen hiding.
  • No rinsing or wiping once it is applied
  • Eliminates 99.9999% of most germs in 30 seconds.
  • Prevents cross-contamination on most hard surfaces
  • Made in the USA

 

Noroxycdiff is used everywhere to kill pathogens: COVID-19, C. diff, MRSA. It is a broad-spectrum disinfectant that has been approved by the EPA to kill bacterial spores quickly. Noroxycdiff has EPA validated claims for all major classes of pathogens, including mold, fungi, viruses and other bacteria.

It is non-corrosive and therefore much safer than bleach. There is no rinsing or wiping down surfaces afterward. It is cost-effective and easy to use with minimal PPE required.

COVID 19 Coronavirus

Halo Disinfection System – As seen on Good Morning America

When high levels of decontamination are required in enclosed spaces we also use the HaloDisinfection System.  The value of the Halo system is it’s ability to achieve 99.9999% disinfection throughout an entire room.

HaloMist is a 5% Hydrogen Peroxide solution activated by silver that leaves no trace and requires no rinsing or wiping.  The Halo Fogger is the ideal fogging system as it emits a small particle dry fog that is safe for electronics and sensitive equipment.  The halo system is a key part of our disinfection service capability that enables us to address a variety of different environments.

 

 

Rapidly disinfect Phones, Tablets, N95 Masks and PPE

Today, the UV box is used by over 180 hospitals. Hospitals can use the UV Box to disinfect their N95 masks, goggles and more!

UV Box - Phone Disinfection

The UV Box is FDA approved and was tested to kill Norovirus by a 3rd party testing lab. It achieves a 99.995% kill rate against Coronavirus and C. diff spores in 55 seconds. C. diff is confirmed to be one of the most difficult pathogens to exterminate.

The UV Box is a commercial-grade disinfectant device. It is extremely effective in disinfecting small medical devices including phones, iPad, badges, and many other objects that need immediate disinfecting in 55 seconds.

What are the benefits of the UV Box?

  • Rapid 99.995% disinfection of bacteria and viruses
  • 55 second kill of COVID-19, C. diff and more
  • Disinfect N95 Masks, Goggles and other PPE
  • Proven 4.5 Log kill of C. diff spores
  • Avoids toxic chemicals like bleach
  • Easy to use
  • Effective against many pathogens
  • Affordable

SPH Medical provides Coronavirus Disinfection services and essential PPE needed by our frontline caregivers. Contact SPH MEDICAL for more information about our PPE, COVID-19 disinfection services and Solutions.

Let us know how we can help you disinfect your facility, office, school, restaurant, hospital, nursing home, apartment building and more.

BP2 In Use Coronavirus
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Disinfect and Protect Hard Surfaces from Covid-19

by sphmedicaladmin

How to Protect Hard Surfaces from Covid-19 CoronaVirus

According to the Los Angeles Times, Deep Cleaners are in high demand ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, cleaning companies have been inundated by calls from schools, businesses, nursing homes, police departments and the like to get a deep cleaning done of their facility.

Partly because of civic responsibility, but just as likely to avoid future liability problems, businesses, schools, nursing homes, grocery stores, pharmacies and the like, (essentially those elements of society who are considered essential and remain open and require some or all of their employees to report to duty unless sick,) want to make sure that a worker who is required by their employer to work during this time doesn’t go to work, contract Coronavirus, and then turn around and sue the business because they failed to protect their customers or their employees.

covid-19 virus

What kind of deep cleaning?

One of the questions that business owners are asking is what level of staff protection, and disinfection will most protect them from COVID-19 and give their employees and customers the confidence to work on a daily basis. The next question is what will businesses have to do going forward to ensure that their workplace is safe on a continual basis?

Here, the CDC guidelines are not of much use. While the CDC guidelines talk about wiping down surfaces, using soap, water and bleach and the like, as the LA Times article previously mentioned made clear, there is no official government regulation defining what deep cleaning means.

One thing a business must do, and this is heart of this article, is to follow the CDC’s guidance that you clean with an EPA registered disinfectant.

There are 351 EPA approved chemicals to disinfect against the Corona germs, and one of the most effective disinfectants available on the market today is Noroxycdiff offered by SPH Medical,

SPH Medical uses a three step process that goes beyond CDC recommendations including using EPA validated Disinfectants, and that includes using an antimicrobial surface protectant that provides extended protection against pathogens.

The three steps you need to know are  1) Clean 2) Disinfect and 3) Protect. We clean everything first. By definition only pre-cleaned surfaces can be disinfected.  Then we disinfect with EPA approved disinfectants like Noroxycdiff which is also safe for food service areas (important for restaurants).  Lastly we go beyond CDC guidelines by spraying Penetrexx Antimicrobial treatment that provides extended bacteriostatic protection against pathogens.

Noroxycdiff Infection Prevention

What is Noroxycdiff and how does SPH Medical use it to deep clean?

Noroxycdiff is a chemical that has been EPA approved for antiseptic procedures SPH Then, for step three, we use Penetrexx. Penetrexx is an EPA registered anti-germ and Antimicrobial cleaner which is used by many hospitals. It is tough on germs and the antimicrobial properties keep germs and bacteria from regenerating. This provides the residual/lasting killing effect and is effective against viruses, bacteria and more.

SPH Medical Penetrexx provides 30 days of protection

Depending upon availability, SPH Medical uses either Noroxycdiff or HaloMist in their total area disinfection services. Both Noroxycdiff and
HaloMist have EPA kill validations on pathogens much more difficult to kill than COVID-19. Each disinfectant has its advantages which are discussed with every client to optimize every unique area being disinfected.

How do we apply these chemicals?

At SPH Medical we use the latest electrostatic spraying technology to ensure an even and total coverage with the disinfectant. For more critical environments we deploy the Altapure AP4 or R.E.D fogging system to ensure a total kill of pathogens.

Both methods are extremely functional as compared to the standard spray and wipe techniques used by other cleaning companies.

As the pandemic virus has shown to last on surfaces for several days at a time, merely wiping and cleaning doorknobs and other surfaces with bleach, not only just spreads germs around, but it misses many surfaces which our fogging methods do not.

Electrostatic sprayers emit a fine charge that makes the biostatic cleaning solution stick to surfaces, while with the R.E.D portable fogging system, a fine mist is sprayed throughout the room which attaches itself to many surfaces never even touched by traditional spray and wipe services.

How long does it take before our employees can re-occupy their workspace?

Using electrostatic sprayers and our disinfectant solutions not only can SPH Medical finish faster, but employees can re-occupy their workspace quickly.

You and your employees simple vacate, we put on hazmat suits and spray. It typically takes around 10-15 minutes to spray and then another 15 minutes to ensure the chemical has dried. These biostatic chemicals do not interfere with people’s health in any ways so if the spraying is done at night or early in the morning, employees will never know it’s happened till you inform them.

With the Halo fogging method, it does take a little longer, because before fogging we completely seal off every room with plastic to keep the chemical completely in the air until it settles on surfaces.

It not only takes longer for our technicians to seal off each room, but it takes around two hours for each room to be fully “vaccinated” so to speak. So again, we recommend you schedule your spraying or your fogging after work, at night, or on weekends for minimum disruption of your business.

How long does a SPH Medical fogging of spraying last? Under normal circumstances, you can plan on your third step in your infection prevention plan to “Protect” your surfaces using Penetrexx Antimicrobial and achieve extended protection with no need to reapply for 30-90 days.

The bottom line

This pandemic has reached world-wide levels like no other recent pandemics have. Everybody is in a general panic over it, and until levels of the pandemic slow down, most companies, schools, and governmental offices will be on lock-down.

In most of the country, only essential businesses are open, and social distancing is highly recommended. Those businesses that are open want to make their employees feel safe, and companies want to ensure there is no blowback from the pandemic in the form of lawsuits that you did not do your due diligence to protect everybody.

Contact SPH Medical Today ate 1-844-377-4633 ext. 710 to schedule a facility wide COVID-19 disinfection.

UV Box - Phone Disinfection
CategoriesInfection Prevention

The UV box eliminates 99.995% of Coronavirus

by sphmedicaladmin

The UV box

Social distancing is in place throughout the country to control the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). States such as California and New York have enforced a shelter in place ordinance to ensure the creation of a slower spread of COVID-19. We now need to provide adequate protection for those who continue to battle exposure while caring for their local communities.

The N95 Masks has played a major role in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The demand for this item can be contributed to its dual service in the public and professional arena. Rightfully so, we are all seeking protection for the same contaminant. This demand has created a shortage in need of a solution. Any effective Personal Protection Equipment available should be immediately provided to hospitals, ambulatory services, law enforcement, and all emergency personnel required to combat the spread of this deadly virus.

covid-19 virus

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS KEY

All effective Personal Protective Equipment must now be employed. Not only to offset the shortage of necessary items such as the N95 masks, but the employment of any solution available is the opportunity to save a life today. Every layer of protection will assist in decreasing the number of those affected by this deadly virus.

The next area of concern should be our emergency personnel who must continue to avoid exposure of the coronavirus while on duty. Hospitals top the list of most vulnerable employees to the spread of this easy to contract life-ending virus. There is a shortage of N95 Masks eliminating a public level of protection from this immediate danger. The difficult task of meeting the demand of the N95 Mask has now been addressed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who have now begun to distribute this item from their reserve to most needed states. The President of the United States has been confronted by local officials requesting him to put in place the Defense Production Act which would spark the manufacturing of Personal Protection Equipment to offset the shortage. Governor Cuomo of New York has weighed in by sharing details of a scenario that included the rise of prices as states attempt to secure the much needed N95 Mask. Until that time when officials decide their method of meeting national coverage for an emergency that threatens the life of all and leaves none unaffected, the AUVS SPHKR615L The UV Box provides safety to the most crucial components of our solutions, emergency personnel. With the highest percentage of protection, 99.995% elimination of contaminants on cellphones, tablets, and small medical devices, the UV Box creates sanitary coverage for items needed not only for immediate assistance but survival.

ADDITIONAL TYPES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Although mask-wearing is not a priority at home, hand washing at home and on the job are mandatory. The one thing we all have in common is our cellphone and tablets. We handle these items constantly and should consider options to ensure they are clear of the virus as well. An item in need of spotlighting would be the UV Box. This equipment protects from the virus by eliminating contaminants from cellphones, tablets, and small medical devices. Electronics are an extension of our hands. We are living in an era where these items are subject to as much exposure as we are. This box can be operated emergency personnel in addition to public visitors arriving at these areas for service.

Consider the cleaning of hands in medical facilities and the use of an electronic device immediately thereafter. Cleaning of counters, doorknobs, and switchboards are necessary. Yet, without complete elimination of virus particles still present on all the elements we constantly touch, other methods can prove ineffective. Just wiping cellphones, tablets, or medical devices with alcohol or Clorox based solutions will not ensure complete elimination of virus presence. A unit offering UV light technology gives assurance of 99.995% decontamination within 60 seconds.

SAFETY FOR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL NECESSARY

While regrouping to secure the main items needed, such as the N95 mask, putting in place just as effective methods can permanently sustain a clean environment. Until such time as production increases for similarly needed protection, other items eliminating virus exposure should be considered. AUVS KR615 The UV Box is a small and affordable method to equip hand washing stations for staff and patients. It is movable and can be carted to new locations when necessary. Durability tops the list as this item has the lifespan of 50 years when cared for appropriately.

For emergency personnel to prove effective, all equipment needed to ensure their safety should be a top priority. Unfortunately, AUVS KR615 The UV Box is not immune to high demand. Consideration of these items should include a purchase time table which can precede the increase in present cost. For life-saving protection offered, the UV Box should gain immediate, national employment with an increase in manufacturing levels enforced. All lives depend upon these necessities.

SPH Medical is a key supplier of N95 Masks and critical COVID-19 PPE to Healthcare facilities to protect our frontline caregivers so that patient care can continue safely. Contact SPH Medical to let us know how we can be of help to your hospital or healthcare system in any way.

CategoriesPatient Handling

N95 Masks Goggles Isolation Gowns and Essential Supplies

by sphmedicaladmin

With the COVID-19 virus spreading throughout the community there is continued pressure on our healthcare system, nurses, caregivers and first responders to address the infected patients and protect themselves at the same time.

SPH Medical is meeting the needs of the healthcare community during this time of short supply and high demand by providing essential supplies to protect our healthcare workers and patients alike.

Recent stories in the press have surfaced regarding hospitals being charged exorbitant amounts for N95 masks. We’ve solved this problem by working with an approved FDA manufacturer to deliver N95 masks in bulk to health systems and facilities.

With a daily manufacturing capability of 500,000 masks we are helping meet the supply demand that has been previously unaddressed.

Contact SPH Medical to get more information about critical supplies, disinfectants and residual surface protectants to reduce the risk of cross contamination and spread of Coronavirus.

Explore using the AUVS UV Box to disinfect N95 masks, goggles, phones, tablets and other small medical devices.

Utilize our two step disinfect and protect methodology and COVID-19 disinfection services to make your environment safe for patients, employees, customers, and family members.

Implement the Halo Fogger or Electrostatic sprayers to thoroughly disinfect your living and workspace.

SPH Medical is here to protect you now when it counts!

SPH Medical N95 Masks and Supplies 2020

Disinfect Phones Tablets and Masks with The UV Box
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Coronavirus and 99.995% disinfection with the UV Box

by sphmedicaladmin

Coronavirus and the SPH Medical UV Box

South Hill, VA – March 16, 2020 – With the global alarm surrounding Coronavirus COVID-19, Advanced Ultra-Violet Systems’ (AUVS) has asked Dr. Wayne Clark for his professional opinion on the AUVS KR615 Germicidal Enclosure’s ability to treat COVID-19 on mobile devices including phone and tablets. Such devices have been proven to be highly contaminated but are often left unaddressed when hand washing protocols are discussed.
​
Dr. Clark is a one the nation’s leading experts on UV energy for antimicrobial applications. A Ph.D. in electrical engineering with specialization in controlled nuclear fusion and plasma physics research, Dr. Clark holds 18 patents and has authored more than 25 published technical articles. His patented Photon Trap Technology is currently protecting the US Pentagon against bio-terrorism and has been put in service at leading medical facilities across the US through the KR615 Germicidal Enclosure, widely known as “The UV Box”.

According to Dr. Wayne Clark, PhD, The AUVS UV Box’s ability to disinfect COVID-19 on mobile devices would be at least as high as the rates it achieved against C.diff and MRSA, specifically up to a 99.995% or 4.5 log disinfection rate. Dr. Clark stated that the susceptibility of COVID-19 to 254 nm UV, as used in The UV Box, should be close to that of SARS, which is a similar coronavirus.

Tests on the SARS coronavirus show that it is very easily killed by 254 nm germicidal UV, explained Dr. Clark. He cited data published by Wladyslaw J. Kowalski in 2015 (Aerobiological Engineering Technical Report, 25 November 2015) indicating that the dose required for 1 log deactivation of SARS is about 7 J/M2, which translates to 0.7 mJ/cm2. Dr. Clark points out this is a very low dose.
​
By comparison, the KR615 produces a dose of approximately 200 mJ/cm2 in a 55 sec disinfection cycle. This is 286 times the dose of 0.7 mJ/cm2 required for 1 log or 90% deactivation of SARS. Rather than thinking about 286 logs of disinfection, explains Dr. Clark, suffice it to say that the disinfection level would be very high. The disinfection levels for COVID-19 with the KR615 should be at least as high as those that we have achieved for C. diff and MRSA, namely up to 99.995% or more than 4 logs.
​

Urgently Used by More Than 180 Hospitals and Hospital Groups

The testing of The UV Box against C. Diff and MRSA, referred to by Dr. Clark, were done by an independent FDA consulting lab. Testing on Norovirus with the UV Box was conducted by a lab specializing in viruses and yielded a 5.25 log reduction rate or 99.999%.
​
The KR615 is currently being used by more than 180 hospitals and hospital groups to fight infections. The enclosure was developed specifically to target handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets that move freely in, around and through healthcare environments putting clinicians, patients, visitors and the general public at risk.
​
The rise of smartphone and tablet usage, in hospitals, restaurants, food processing facilities and throughout the business and manufacturing world–along with studies confirming exceedingly high contamination levels on these devices–has made The UV Box a vital, first-line of defense and integral part of Hand Hygiene initiatives.
​

Safe for All Handheld Devices

The UV Box is lauded for its ease of use, durability and speed – disinfecting multiple devices in just 55 seconds with the push of a single button.

Adding to its appeal is the fact that it represents zero threat to handheld devices such as smart phones and tablets. On March 5, 2020 Spectralink, a leading mobile communication solutions provider working in the Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing and Hospitality industries, approved The UV Box for disinfection of its leading Versity product line.

Learn more about how facilities are using the UV Box to disinfect N95 Masks, mobile devices and more. The CDC discusses UV Disinfection and the benefits and limitations.  The UV Box germicidal enclosure provides 360 degree with close proximity UV light reaching all sides of any object that fits inside for total disinfection and has been tested with 99.995% effectiveness against bacterial spores! Contact SPH Medical for more information [email protected].

The UV Box rapidly kills pathogens in 55 seconds
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Disinfecting N95 Masks with the SPH Medical AUVS UV Box

by sphmedicaladmin

With the COVID-19 pandemic expanding we are all finding supplies in general are difficult to find especially hospital masks. One of the most important masks being used right now is an N95 mask which is a particulate filtering respirator mask.  We know that the experts at the CDC are telling us that Coronavirus can be spread by respiratory droplets that are produced when a person sneezes or coughs. These infected droplets can land on our nurses and healthcare providers and others that are nearby. The droplets can even be inhaled into the lungs.  For these reasons the N95 mask is in high demand yet not much is done to help with the disinfecting N95 masks.

What Does FDA Say about N95 Masks?

An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles.

The ‘N95’ designation means that when subjected to careful testing, the respirator blocks at least 95 percent of very small (0.3 micron) test particles. If properly fitted, the filtration capabilities of N95 respirators exceed those of face masks. However, even a properly fitted N95 respirator does not completely eliminate the risk of illness or death.

However if you need to reuse the N95 mask, how do you ensure that it has been properly disinfected when moving between environments or between patient contact?  One way is to use the SPH Medical UV Box for rapid and thorough disinfection.

Validation Ensures Efficacy

The UV Box has gone through thorough validation testing to confirm a 99.9995% kill rate on even the most difficult to kill pathogens, C. diff spores and has been shown to be effective against many viruses and bacteria including Coronavirus.

We are receiving more and more calls and emails about the ability of the SPH Medical UV Box to disinfect phones, tablets and yes, even N95 Masks. All of these devices and more can be easily disinfected in 55 seconds. We’re seeing hospitals disinfect lead wires, glucose monitors, stethoscopes, badges, batteries, keys, and more with the UV Box.

More than N95 Masks – Disinfect your phones!

This week alone we have had calls from Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Doctors Offices, Clinics and even homeowners requesting quotes for the UV Box. The importance of hand washing is obvious but don’t forget that the phone has been in a persons hand often several hundred times per day! And this is after touching surfaces that have likely been contaminated. The best way to be assured that your phone is completely germ free is a 55 second disinfection cycle in the SPH Medical AUVS UV Box! Read our blog post about contaminated phones spreading Coronavirus and watch the CNN video.

Need more help?

If you have any questions about the capability of the UV Box, please submit your questions to us using our email [email protected] and we’ll get back to you quickly to help.

Here is the documentation stating that UV Light can properly disinfect an N95 mask. We know that the SPH Medical AUVS UV Box offers the largest opening of any healthcare grade UV Light disinfection system allowing the N95 mask to be easily and rapidly disinfected. Effects of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) on N95 Respirator Filtration Performance and Structural Integrity.

CDC and NIOSH Respirators: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/n95list1.html

Think Inside The Box – SPH Medical

CategoriesInfection Prevention

CNN News – Mobile Phones Will Spread Coronavirus

by sphmedicaladmin

Mobile Phones Should be Disinfected with UV Light for Optimal Disinfection

With Coronavirus spreading rapidly we are all trying to practice social distancing, proper handwashing, not touching your hands to your face, and minimizing contact with surfaces that could be infected with COVID-19. But how often are we touching our phone and never cleaning it or better yet, disinfecting it! CNN investigated the mobile phone contamination issue and reported that UV light disinfection is one way that you can safely rid your phone of viruses and bacteria. The AUVS UV Box is the leading mobile device disinfection system on market today. In just 55 seconds it completely disinfects your cell phone, tablet, or other small portable device killing 99.99% of all viruses and bacteria. CNN released this video discussing the high priority for disinfecting phones and how dirty they must be if we’re constantly touching our phones without cleaning them. Mobile phones will spread coronavirus, but we have good news, the SPH Medical AUVS UV Box is extremely effective against the Coronavirus.

Effectiveness of the AUVS UV Box against Coronavirus:

  • Susceptibility of the coronavirus COVID-19 to 254 nm UV
  • The susceptibility of COVID-19 to 254 nm UV should be close to that of SARS, which is a similar coronavirus. Tests on the SARS coronavirus show that it is very easily killed by 254 nm germicidal UV. Specifically, data published by Wladyslaw J. Kowalski in 2015 (Aerobiological Engineering Technical Report, 25 November 2015) indicates that the dose required for 1 log deactivation of SARS is about 7 J/M2, which translates to 0.7 mJ/cm2. This is a very low dose.
  • The KR615 produces a dose of approximately 200 mJ/cm2 in a 55 sec disinfection cycle. This is 286 times the dose of 0.7 mJ/cm2 required for 1 log or 90% deactivation of SARS. This means that in practice, the actual disinfection level would only be limited by any surface imperfections that might prevent the UV energy from reaching the virus. So, while it is meaningless to think about 286 logs of disinfection, the disinfection level should be very high. The disinfection levels for COVID-19 with the KR615 should be at least as high as those that have been measured for C. diff and MRSA, namely approximately 4 logs. It is important to remember Mobile phones will spread coronavirus, so sanitation is extremely important.

The AUVS UV Box – Disinfects Mobile Devices Effectively killing Coronavirus in 55 seconds.

Mobile Phones will Spread Coronavirus

From the CDC and EPA:

  • Cleaning removes germs and dirt from surfaces. You can use soap and water to clean surfaces. This doesn’t always kill germs, but removing them lowers their numbers. It’s suggested to clean surfaces before you disinfect them.
  • Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces. Disinfectant chemicals are stronger than soap but do not necessarily clean visibly dirty surfaces or remove germs. Killing germs lowers the risk of infection. To properly disinfect, products need to remain on a surface for a specific amount of time — usually 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Sanitizing also kills germs, but disinfecting kill more of them. Some products are capable of doing both, but disinfecting requires a bit more work. Still, sanitizers effectively lower the risk of infection.

CDC Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/cleaning-disinfection.html

CategoriesPatient Handling

Patient Positioning During Thoracentesis Solved

by sphmedicaladmin

Major Advancements in Safe Patient Positioning during Thoracentesis

Over the past two decades we have seen major advancements in patient care. This includes many new Safe Patient Handling Solutions developed to help our nurses and caregivers avoid the risk injury. Manual patient handling is one of the leading causes of back injuries for nurses. Many States have put laws in place to mandate that hospitals have a Safe Patient Handling program. This includes evaluating all inpatient units for high risk tasks that involve lifting, pushing, pulling, or prolonged static holds. Then the hospital should evaluate solutions to mitigate the risk. Here we are in 2020 and manual patient handling has not been eliminated yet!

We have been receiving phone calls from hospitals around the country describing a very common procedure. It is putting their ultrasound/imaging team at risk of injury on a daily basis. The procedure is called Thoracentesis and the issues are patient positioning during Thoracentesis.

Thoracentesis is also known as thoracocentesis or pleural tap. It is an invasive procedure to remove fluid or air from the pleural space for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. A cannula, or hollow needle, is carefully introduced into the thorax, generally after administration of local anesthesia.

One Ultrasound Manager at leading hospital found our website and the EPD – or Epidural Positioning Device. She contacted us and thought this would be perfect for their situation.

Here’s a brief description:

This hospital sees both inpatients and outpatients for Thora’s (That’s short for Thoracentesis). They’re performing about 3-6 procedures per day, seven days a week.

A Nurse or LPN helps assist to position the patient. The patient is seated on a gurney or table. The Nurse brings over a stool to support their feet. Then moves a bedside tray table over in front of the patient. Next they stack the table with pillows so the patient can lean on it comfortably. But, the table does not lock and it is a tip hazard!

We found this reference card on the web describing the old fashioned manual positioning of patients during Thora’s

thoracentesis Nursing Care Patient Prep

Which patients are getting Thoracentesis? There are many types of patients with varying diagnoses that need to undergo this procedure. People get “plural effusion” which is fluid around the lungs. A large number of patients are cancer patients but many are also heart and infections.

Thoracentesis Procedure

Thoracentesis procedure

How are we solving this predictable procedure and all the manual patient handling – static holds, fall risk, etc? The SPH Medical Epidural Positioning Device is the key. It was designed by an anesthesiologist to help position patients properly and to open up the spine for ideal needle placement of an Epidural or Spinal Block. It has now become the standard of care for L&D and surgery departments. Now the Radiology/Imaging department has discovered it and we’re helping the ultrasound team and Pulmonologists position patients safely and efficiently.

We have few photos from a recent customer that has implemented the EPD. Here are the before and after photos. Please feel free to Contact us for more information about the EPD and Thora’s. We would be happy to connect you with to our customers who are now using the EPD for all of their Thora’s and creating a safer environment for their staff and patients.

Thoras Before

A Typical Thoracentesis set up with a stool and non-locking tray table with pillows.

Thoras After with EPD

Now with the EPD – Ergonomic patient positioning that supports the patient safely and eliminates manual handling!

CategoriesPatient Handling

Keeping Staff and Patients Safe in OR and Radiology with the EPD

by sphmedicaladmin

The EPD and E-EPD were developed to reduce the risk of injuries and improve safety among staff and patients. By implementing the use of EPDs, hospitals can actively protect their staff and improve patient outcomes.

E-EPD-IMG_3584

Safe Patient Handling

EPDs are used in numerous medical settings including labor and delivery, general surgery, operating rooms, anesthesiology, radiology and orthopedic departments. These are all settings in which epidurals, spinal blocks, x-rays and Thoracentesis procedures are performed. Keeping patients safe and comfortable while avoiding injuries is an extremely important factor for every medical facility. EPDs correctly and effectively position patients to do just that. They create a sturdy, steady and comfortable place to assist in holding patients in place while their procedure is performed.

Reducing Risks to Staff 

Hospitals and medical facilities are responsible for keeping their nurses and support staff safe. Plans to keep staff injury-free include providing them with the right tools. EPDs eliminate back pain and body strain that nurses can endure while assisting with tradition positioning methods associated with epidurals and like procedures. It is important to keep nurses and hospital staff healthy and performing at their best. EPDs make this easy. They position and support patients correctly and easily so that nurses don’t have the pressure and physical load of holding patients in a stable position for a long period of time. This can cause a lot of strain and be uncomfortable, especially if the patient is larger than the nurse.

Download EPD Package Data Sheet

Download E-EPD Data Sheet

EPDs_hallway-1

EPDs and E-EPDs are a clearly defined safety need in hospitals. Not only do they keep patients safe, they help keep the hospital staff safe as well. They help eliminate errors, injuries and accidents which directly increases patient and nurse satisfaction. EPDs are easy to implement and use, making it a simple decision when it comes to protecting staff and patients.

 

Contact SPH Medical for more information about supporting your patient and staff safety goals.

[email protected]

1-844-377-4633

www.sphmedical.com

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