Life Expectancy of Pathogens Causing Nosocomial Infections was published for Kaivac
Hamilton, OH – The professional cleaning industry plays a leading role in helping to slow the spread of nosocomial infections.
However, this has been a challenging battle. One reason for this is that the pathogens that trigger a nosocomial infection – many of which are life-threatening – survive for so long on dry surfaces.
This was determined by one of the most comprehensive studies on this subject. Though a decade all, this study is still referenced today. *
This team of researchers concluded:
The most common nosocomial pathogens may survive or persist on surfaces for months and can thereby be a continuous source of transmission if no regular preventive surface disinfection is performed.
The three most common pathogens causing nosocomial infections, according to the researchers, along with their survival rates are the following:
- E. coli, 1.5 hours to 16 months
- Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), seven days to seven months
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, six hours to 16 months; on a dry floor, five weeks.
In addition, it was found that colder temperatures enhance the survival capabilities of these bacteria. Further, while the type of surface in which the bacteria are found had minimal impact on survival rates, bacteria on plastic and steel tended to live longer.
As to the researcher’s suggestion that “regular preventive surface disinfection” can help address this problem, one method that is proving effective in recent studies is “bundled cleaning.”
This is when two, three, or more cleaning systems and technologies are used together to help clean and disinfect surfaces, according to Drew Bunn, Canadian Sales Director for Kaivac, manufacturers of the No-Touch Cleaning® and OmniFlex™ cleaning systems.
Bunn suggests an example of a bundled cleaning program is the following:
- Microfiber cleaning cloths
- Spray-and-vac (no-touch) cleaning systems
- Electrostatic disinfection systems
“The secret to bundled cleaning is that the different systems each play a specific role,” says. Bunn, “Working together, they are more powerful at reducing or eliminating pathogens, including those that can cause nosocomial infections.”
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*Kramer, A., Schwebke, I., & Kampf, G. (2006). How long do nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A systematic review. BMC infectious Diseases
More Kaivac articles are located here.
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About Kaivac, Inc.
Kaivac is the developer of the No-Touch Cleaning® and OmniFlex™ Crossover Cleaning systems. Headquartered in Hamilton, Ohio, Kaivac, Inc. delivers complete science-based cleaning systems designed to produce healthy results and outcomes while raising the value of cleaning operations and the professionalism of the worker. Kaivac offers an integrated portfolio of environmentally friendly cleaning products designed to remove the maximum amount of soil and potentially harmful biopollutants in the most cost-effective manner possible.
For more information, contact Kaivac Global Head Quarters at www.kaivac.com, email info@kaivac.com, or call 513-887-4600.
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Kaivac, Inc.
2680 Van Hook Avenue
Hamilton, OH 45015
Phone: 513-868-4227
Email: info@kaivac.com
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