HospitalsJuly 29, 2016

The State of Disinfection Today

by Halosil

Timely insights from APIC 2016

Few would argue that disinfection is an important, if not essential, priority for today’s healthcare provider. With a myriad of HAIs threatening lives, profitability and reputation, infection control professionals are challenged to find a solution in which they can place their confidence and trust.

Market statistics show that we have been making headway in the fight against HAIs, with decreased incidence rates over the past several years. MRSA infections decreased roughly 13 percent between 2011 and 2014, and C. difficile infections decreased 8 percent during that same time frame. While it is true that this is progress, there is still much work to do.

A 2015 study estimated that more than 700,000 patients contract an HAI every year, and 75,000 lose their lives as a result. Often, our view of HAIs is a macro one, informed by aggregate data and market publications. And these mechanisms give a strong pulse for progress. However, it is a rare and valuable opportunity when we get to see and understand the market through the eyes of those that are fighting the good fight against infections every day.

June’s APIC 2016 conference in Charlotte provided one such opportunity. The show provided a valuable forum for us to gain insight into the state of disinfection today, informed by those who are working on the front lines. As individuals visited Halosil’s booth on the floor, we asked them a series of questions related to their disinfection efforts and priorities. Here’s what we found:

1. C. difficile tops the chart as the most concerning HAI. 77 percent of surveyed professionals identified C. difficile as a top concern, with 44 percent identifying MRSA and 29 percent identifying CRE and/or VRE. This demonstrates the mounting concern over bacterial resistance, and the need for a solution that overcomes this concern by applying multiple mechanisms of killing action.
2. Professionals are lacking confidence in their disinfection strategies. Only 5 percent of those surveyed indicated a high level of confidence in current disinfection methods, and 37 percent indicated that they were unsure of or lacked confidence in their current approach. This widespread lack of confidence indicates the need for greater education and partnership efforts on the part of disinfection solution providers to help infection control professionals navigate this challenging topic.
3. The majority of systems relies on spray and wipe alone. An astounding 71 percent of systems indicated reliance on spray and wipe as a sole method for disinfection. Only 27 percent had embraced whole room disinfection as a component of their strategy. Spray and wipe methods are no match for today’s super infections. HAI reduction efforts will be limited until whole room disinfection has reached critical mass in the market.
4. The market views UV’s efficacy as suspect. Only 13 percent of respondents said that UV systems typically provide a 6-log kill. Meanwhile, 53 percent noted that while UV systems generally disinfect, they do not effectively reach shadowed areas or large distances. Another 10 percent felt that UV systems do not work well at all.
5. Efficacy matters, to the 6th log. Despite the prevalence of spray and wipe methods, survey respondents perceived the importance of a 6-log kill. In fact, 57 percent considered a 6-log kill a ‘must have’ for disinfection efforts. This metric indicates that infection control professionals understand efficacy is a top priority that cannot be compromised in disinfection efforts.

From our vantage point at Halosil, the APIC findings demonstrate the healthcare market’s ready need for a solution that achieves the highest possible efficacy, while also delivering easy operationalization. Our HaloFogger® is proven to do just that, with an EPA-validated 99.9999% kill rate of C. difficile spores in healthcare settings, and a host of workflow enhancing features.

Would you like to have complete confidence in your environment’s approach to whole room disinfection? Contact Halosil today.