Adviser Vol. 3 2016 | Page 51

Market Watch : Healthcare

Feature

Market Watch : Healthcare

Most Common Infections in Healthcare Settings
Brian Morabito , manager , Healthcare Solutions at Hillyard , Inc .

As we approach Long Term Care ( LTC ) facilities to help them standardize and implement Best

Practice cleaning procedures and product offerings , it ’ s important to know what infections are prevalent and most challenging for these facilities . It ’ s also important we know how to address these challenges . Below is a list of the most common infections found in a LTC facility and which products can be used to fight them .
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ( MRSA ) is one of the most recognized superbugs around . MRSA is typically associated with urinary tract infections ( UTIs ), as well as bone and joint infections , which can result in ruptured abscesses that are difficult to heal . Since it is difficult to treat , it can be deadly . It has a mortality rate of approximately 35 percent , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). Products such as Hillyard ’ s Re-Juv-Nal ®, ReJuv-Nal ® HBV and Vindicator ®+ have claims to kill certain strains of MRSA .
Clostridium difficile [ klo-strid-ee-um dif-uh-seel ] ( C . difficile ) is a bacterium that causes inflammation of the colon . More commonly known as C . diff , this bacterium is passed in feces and spread to food or objects such as eating utensils when those infected do not wash their hands well . The bacterium generates spores that are difficult to eliminate . Among those most likely to become infected are older adults in hospitals or LTC facilities . The mortality rate is approximately 25 percent , according to the CDC . Products that we distribute such as
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Clorox ® Bleach Germicidal wipes and Bleach Germicidal Liquid have kill claims against C . diff .
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads by an infected person , contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces . It causes your stomach , intestines or both to become inflamed ( acute gastroenteritis ), which leads to stomach pain , nausea , diarrhea and vomiting . Each year , Norovirus causes 19-21 million illnesses and contributes to 56,000-71,000 hospitalizations and 570-800 deaths . Hillyard ’ s Re-Juv-Nal ®, Q . T . ® Plus , QT-TB ® and Germicidal Disinfectant Wipes have claims to kill the Norovirus .
Influenza ( flu ) is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages , causing fever , headache and muscle or body aches . Experts think the flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when infected people cough , sneeze or talk . People over the age of 65 , with compromised immune systems are vulnerable to getting the flu . The flu results in 200,000 hospitalities each year and kills on average 1,000 people each year , according to the CDC . Products such as Re-JuvNal ®, Vindicator ®+ and Q . T . ® Plus have claims against the H1N1 strain , whereas QT-TB ® has claims against both H1N1 and H3N2 strains .
By helping our LTC customers implement Best Practice surface disinfecting and cleaning protocols and by choosing the right products with the proper efficacy claims , we can help to reduce the spread of infection in these facilities .
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