The Questions Over the Use of ABHR's Continue to Grow

Since the uptake of Alcohol Based Hand Rubs for one of the key aspects of infection prevention and control, hand hygiene, recommendations for it's use has come from such influential bodies such as the WHO and CDC.

The CDC last reviewed its recommendations as far back as 2002. Since that date the use of ABHR's has unquestionably had an impact on infection control and infection rates, however with the experience of use over this time questions are beginning to be raised over the use of ABHR's.

The following study is one of many that surely should stimulate a review of both the recommendations made by both bodies, especially as there are a number of excellent alternatives now available which in 2002 was not the case.

Edwards, Patel and Wareham had a study published in The Journal of Medical Microbiology as long ago as 2007. "Low concentrations of commercial alcohol hand rubs facilitate growth of secretions of extracellular proteins by multidrug-resitant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii"

Just one small section of this in-depth study raises significant questions, "As ABHR's are extensively used in health care settings, the authors set out to determine whether the hand rubs could also influence the growth of prevalent multidrug-resistant strains circulating in UK hospitals. A significant increase in growth was observed"!!!

During the study commercially available ABHR's were used, Skinman, Softalind, Spirigel and Purell.

It makes fascinating reading, but more importantly it strengthens the argument along with many other factors, that it is time for the CDC and WHO to make an unbiased review of their recommendations.

The Strengthening of Ebiox

Over the past few months Ebiox has been working to enhance and extend their product offering, as well as strengthening their financial position as part of ongoing plans for growth.

New Trionic D Wipe Dispensing System

Ebiox has launched its new dispensing system utilising the well proven and accepted Trionic D Wipes for cleaning and disinfection. Ideally suited for smaller clinical areas and ambulances with a wall mounted perspex holder and a flat pack of 50 medium size wipes which can be replaced when empty.

Natural Esense

Natural Esense is their first hand hygiene product based on sustainable natural ingredients, Natural Esense™. Extracted from the pith of Seville Oranges (Citrus Aurantium), Natural Esense is a proprietary formula, and is classed under the Bioflavonoid Complex classification.

Tested extensively to European regulatory standards and other supporting studies, Natural Esense provides effective bacterial, virucidal, fungicidal and sporicidal protection.

There is a growing interest in non alcohol based products especially within hand hygiene with Infection Prevention and Control teams looking for answers to help drive forward the levels of compliance to their hand hygiene protocols.

Natural Esense will be made available in a variety of dispensing systems.

Trionic A2Z Dry Mist System

Following extensive redesign and upgrade programme led by Amazon Bio-Guard Ltd, Ebiox has launched the new system for total room or vehicle disinfection.

There is a growing demand for total room or vehicle disinfection and there are a number of competitors already offering such devices into our market sector, however there can be a number of issues with the current offering, process time, complex protocols, complex systems, cost, damage to materials in the room and surface wetting.

The Trionic A2Z Area Disinfection System has a number of features which provides answers to a number of these issues:
Simple and easy to use system
No complex protocols
Shorter process times
No surface wetting
Very Cost effective
Use as an ongoing preventative measure

We believe this is an excellent addition to our product portfolio, one which offers many opportunities and the potential for pull through of other products such as Trionic wipes. Our aim as Ebiox is to offer a comprehensive range of solutions for Infection Prevention and Control.

Financial

The Directors of Ebiox Limited are pleased to announce that the company has completed a rights issue of £700,000 to strengthen its balance sheet and provide further working capital funding to grow the business.

The Directors were informed in July 2011 that Healthcare Enterprise Group plc had been put into liquidation, but would note that Healthcare Enterprise Group plc ceased to own Ebiox Limited in July 2009 and current shareholding only represents 7% of the Company’s ordinary share capital.

Ebiox Updates Website

Ebiox has now update their website with information on the new products including Natural Esense, our new all natural ingredient hand hygiene product which can also be used as a Surgical Hand Disinfection Rub, and Trionic A2Z a simple, easy to use and low cost solution to area disinfection such as ambulances and wards, which will fit well into infection prevention and control protocols.

For further information on these and the whole of the Ebiox range contact sales@ebiox.co.uk

Al- Zuhour Private School converts to Esense Hand Sanitising Foam Rub. Safety of the children was key in the decision.

With the concerns which surround the use of Alcohol Based Hand Rubs in schools, colleges and universities the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US have recommended the use of non alcohol based hand rubs. This especially so following a reported 12,000 incidences of toxicity in students.

Following a recent visit to the UAE it was a pleasure to give a talk to 300 pupils of all ages on the key aspects of hand hygiene and the prevention of infections and sickness in school. The school Al-Zuhour Private School in Sharjah has recently changed their hand rub for the pupils from alcohol to Esense Hand Sanitising Foam Rub. Their decision was based on safety and efficacy, in particular Esense Hand Rub being slightly slower to dry thus allowing the children to conduct a better hand cleaning process.

CDC is it not time for a review and update.

In 2002 the CDC in the US were very forward thinking in the development of Hand Hygiene Guidelines, it certainly has been one of the foundations for the increased knowledge for the need of strict hand hygiene protocols and the positive impact that has on reducing HCAI's.

Within that guideline they recommended the use of Alcohol Based Hand Rubs (ABHR's), the only product readily available at that time.

In the following nine years however there have been major steps forward with other products such as non alcohol based hand rubs and further information about ABHR's which should stimulate a long awaited unbiased review of all the products available, allowing new recommendations to be put in place.

Perhaps this is being done out of the public domain. In the fast changing world of healthcare protocols and procedures it seems that nine years for an updated recommendation on such a critical area such as Hand Hygiene and the impact on HCAI's is a very long time. 

I Wonder Why This is Not Publicised?

We assessed the ability of the residues of an alcohol-based hand gel (hand gel A) to support the survival of methcilin resistant Staphylococcus aureas (MRSA) and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (ACCB).

MRSA and ACCB survived for 8 hours on hand gel A residue

Hand gel A is extensively used in UK hospitals and its residue left on high-touch surfaces may support the survival of bacteria that cause healthcare-acquired infections.

Taken from a study completed by UCH.

Ebiox Launches Updated Catalogue

With the ever evolving product offering from Ebiox Limited a new catalogue covering the full portfolio of products is now available.
New products include Natural Esense, our new all natural ingredient hand hygiene product which can also be used as a Surgical Hand Disinfection Rub. Trionic A2Z a simple, easy to use and low cost solution to area disinfection such as ambulances and wards, which will fit well into infection prevention and control protocols. Also introduced is a new dispensing system for the well established Trionic D cleaning and disinfection wipes, the system is primarily aimed at small clinical areas and ambulances.
For further information please contact sales@ebiox.co.uk