CategoriesInfection Prevention

Fighting Hospital Acquired Infections

Fighting Hospital Acquired Infections

Hospitals can sometimes be a breeding ground for infections, according to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which revealed that every year close to 2 million Americans develop hospital acquired infections that further compromises their health. These infections, the study notes, are born of viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, and they can give way to surgical site infections (SSIs), bloodstream infections (BSIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and pneumonia. They can also increase a patient’s chances of developing C. diff, a specific type of bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea, nausea, fever, stomach pain, and other gastrointestinal problems. All hospital-acquired infections can jeopardize the health of patients and medical staff alike, but C. diff is one of the worst ones, according to hospital infection reports.

The Truth About C. Diff and How It Impacts Patients and Hospitals

Also known as clostridium deficile, C. diff is responsible for over 200,000 of the roughly 1.7 million hospital-acquired infections reported annually in the U.S., with the average annual cost of treatment coming in at around $6.3 billion. Most of the hospitals that have a problem with C. diff are those that use ineffective sanitizing and disinfectant products as a way to keep viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens that cause infection at bay. Most patients become infected with C. diff after touching a surface contaminated with feces and touching their mouth before washing their hands. So that everyone is on the same page, C. diff bacteria and its associated spores are commonly found in feces.

What Hospitals Are Doing to Comply With CDC Guidelines for Minimizing Hospital-Acquired Infections

There is no denying the intent; all hospitals employ sanitizing and disinfecting processes that help minimize a patient’s chances of developing an infection. But some use better products than others; one of those products is Oxydiff, an EPA approved disinfectant that quickly kills methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other infections caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Current data shows a large percentage of U.S. hospitals have made the powerful disinfectant their go-to for disinfecting hard surfaces, especially the ones likely to be contaminated with C.diff.2 min kill of pathogens using Oxydiff

The Consequences of Not Using the Right Disinfectant to Prevent the Spread of Hospital-Acquired Infections

Quite a few consequences cans stem from not taking the necessary steps to minimize the risk of hospital-acquired infection, some of which include the following:

    • Prolonged hospital stays – Patients who develop hospital-acquired infections often have to remain in a hospital much longer than anticipated, which leads to higher treatment costs. According to the CDC, the cost of treating hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is more than $28 billion annually. It is also worth noting that the development of an HAI can make it harder to treat the condition that caused patients to visit the hospital in the first place.
    • Lost wages – Hospital-acquired infections are known to lengthen recovery times for patients after they have left the hospital and have returned home. And this precludes them from returning to work as quickly as they would like, which leads to a loss of wages.
    • Death – While rare, hospital-acquired infections can prove fatal for some patients. In a study published by the Alliance for Aging Research, researchers revealed an estimated 99,000 people die from these types of infections every year in the U.S.

Bottom Line

Despite being one of the most sanitary places anyone could find themselves in, infections do happen in hospitals. And they can sometimes have devastating consequences. But it is possible to minimize the spread of these infections by using a professional-grade, EPA approved disinfectant. Made up of a 5% peracetic acid disinfectant cleaner that cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes in a single step, Oxydiff is one of the best. According to the product’s manufacturer, it is a disinfectant that can destroy bacteria responsible for several infections, including those mentioned in this article, in as little as 2 minutes. With that being the case, it is easy to see why more and more hospitals are turning to this powerful disinfectant to help keep patients and medical teams safe.

No Rinse No Wipe and 2 Min Kill of C diff
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Hospital Grade Disinfectants

Reduce the Risk of Hospital-Acquired Infections with OXYdiff

The risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) from dangerous pathogens is a constant threat to patients during treatment. This risk is exacerbated by invasive procedures like surgery, severe illnesses, the misuse of antibiotics and neglect of best practices. Although, the use of proper hospital grade disinfectants and adhering to best practices for cleaning can help reduce the risk of patients contracting HAIs. Recently receiving an updated approval by the EPA, OXYdiff is a disinfectant capable of killing some of the most dangerous pathogens in the hospital setting, protecting patients. Formerly known as Noroxycdiff, this environmentally friendly disinfectant is primarily made with Hydrogen Peroxide. OXYdiff has also received an upgrade with an Emerging Pathogens approval.

Hospital-Acquired Infections

HAIs lead to medical costs of over $28.4 billion every year. These infections are often caused by hard-to-kill bacteria and can lead to severe conditions like sepsis for already vulnerable patients. With the right prevention measures in place, healthcare facilities can reduce HAIs by up to 70%. This makes it crucial for hospitals to use a safe and effective hospital grade disinfectants that targets deadly bacteria and viruses in the prevention process.

However, not all hospital disinfectants are created equal. Not all disinfectants are capable of killing all of the deadly pathogens that threaten patients, such as Clostridium deficile, a dangerous spore forming bacteria. Bleach is often touted as a solution since it is capable of killing the bacteria, but bleach comes with its own disadvantages. Bleach emits toxic fumes that are harmful to patients and staff and can even damage equipment due to its corrosive properties.

An Effective Hospital Grade Disinfectant

OXYdiff targets and kills dangerous pathogens, like Norovirus, MRSA and Clostridium deficile and is easy to use in any setting. OXYdiff has a 2 minute kill time for Clostridium deficile, also known as C. diff. C. diff is considered one of the most difficult pathogens to kill and poses a serious threat to patients as it can remain on surfaces for five months and has no response to alcohol.

OXYdiff’s versatility gives healthcare professionals the ability to effectively and efficiently protect patients without the risks of other disinfectants. OXYdiff requires no rinsing and no wiping during application, making the process quick and easy and allowing healthcare staff to focus on patient care. The non-toxic formula simply needs to be sprayed using a spray bottle, electrostatic sprayer, or applied using a fogger.

Using OXYdiff as a hospital grade disinfectant in a hospital setting can significantly reduce the risk of patients contracting an HAI while providing a safe and harmless alternative to other disinfectants. Ultimately, OXYdiff can help save lives, reduce healthcare costs and maintain peace of mind for healthcare professionals and patients alike.

2 min kill of pathogens using Oxydiff
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Cost of Hospital Acquired Infections

Despite having a reputation for being one of the most sterile places one could ever visit, hospitals can sometimes be a breeding ground for infections. And this unsettling reality is well documented in multiple studies, one of which comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study revealed an estimated 1.7 million hospital patients develop a hospital-acquired infection every year in the U.S. These infections are byproducts of viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. And these pathogens can cause bloodstream infections (BSIs), pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and surgical site infections (SSIs). But it does not end there; these pathogens can also increase a hospital patient’s chances of developing C. diff. For this very reason, SPH Medical encourages all hospitals to make OXYdiff their go-to hard surface disinfection product.

Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAI’s): What You May Not Have Known About  C. Diff

It is no surprise that patients sometimes develop infections while in a hospital, but what is surprising, however, is some infections are far more common than others, one of them being C. diff. Also known as Clostridioides difficile or C. difficile, C. diff is a hospital-acquired infection that causes severe diarrhea and increases a patient’s chances of developing colitis. C. diff accounts for roughly 200,000 of the 1.7 million hospital-acquired infections recorded each year, and the annual cost of treating them is over $6.3 billion. Along with diarrhea and an inflamed colon, which goes hand-in-hand with colitis, C. diff can cause the following symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Stomach tenderness or pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea

Why Is C. Diff So Common in Hospitals?

Studies show that C. diff is a bacterium that enters the body through the mouth. Individuals with C. diff often shed spores, which generally make their way onto surfaces throughout the hospital. If those surfaces do not undergo proper sanitizing, anyone who touches them and then touches their mouth with the same hand can develop C. diff themselves. For this very reason, SPH Medical encourages all hospitals to make OXYdiff, a broad-spectrum disinfectant approved by the U.S. Environment Protection (EPA) to kill C. diff, MRSA, and other harmful infections, their go-to hard surface disinfection product.

Choosing the Right Sanitizing Product Matters More Than You Might Think

When it comes to professional-grade sanitizers, some are just better than others. With a 2 min kill time for destroying C. diff spores and their associated pathogens, OXYdiff is a prime example of one of the better ones, surpassing even professional-grade bleach as it is non-corrosive. And you don’t have to wear protective equipment when handling it either.

What Does It Mean to Be on the EPA’s Emerging Pathogens Approval List?

The EPA awards what are known as emerging viral pathogen claims to products that have demonstrated an ability to kill hard-to-kill viruses based on previous EPA-approved claims, one of which is COVID-19. Because OXYdiff recently received this distinctive honor, the EPA, without pushing for additional testing, approved the sanitizer for killing COVID-19. In response, many hospitals nationwide have made it their sanitizer of choice.

Bottom Line

All in all, OXYdiff is a professional-grade sanitizer that safeguards the lives of patients while lowering the cost associated with keeping hospitals free of germs, viruses, and spore-forming bacteria. For more information regarding how this EPA approved, powerful sanitizer, comprising a patented no rinse no wipe solution, can benefit your hospital, consider contacting SPH Medical today.

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