Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities

Markets

It’s no secret that hospitals, medical offices, and healthcare facilities are often the source of infection for millions of people each year. 

MRSA, CRE, CRKP, Staph, influenza and E. Coli are among the pathogens contracted in healthcare settings every day. In fact, the Center for Disease Control estimates that approximately 1.7 million people contract healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) from hospitals alone, and of those, approximately 99,000 result in death. 

Crunch the numbers, and the picture tells the story: over 4,500 people contract HAIs on a daily basis: nearly one person in every twenty that is admitted to a hospital will acquire an infection. Not surprisingly, the cost to the healthcare system related to HAIs can be as high as $45 billion per annum, with average infections costing up to $25,900 per incident. The financial impact of this phenomenon, according to the CDC, can be overwhelming for healthcare facilities and for the nation’s healthcare system in general. 

More frequent cleaning and efficient disinfecting with SD Labs Electrolyzed Water systems manufactured by Viking Pure Solutions can help mitigate these challenges in concert with reducing the opportunity for odor-causing and surface damaging bacteria to proliferate by applying our SD Pro or SD ST products.

"Approximately 1.7 million people contract healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) from hospitals alone, and of those, approximately 99,000 result in death."

Compounding the problem is the recent emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as CRKP, CRE, and MRSA, which are adding a new level of urgency in addressing ways to eliminate or minimize the spread of infection in healthcare settings. With mortality rates associated with many of these super-strains as high as 50%, that urgency will only increase, leading the CDC to call for all healthcare settings, regardless of the level of care provided, to “make infection prevention a priority”.

One of the most common ways in which infectious diseases are transmitted is through common touchpoints in patient care settings that include patient rooms, ORs and ICUs, among others. In spite of aggressive hand washing protocols, surfaces in these areas have been demonstrated to harbor significant levels of microorganisms, many of which can survive for days. As such, HAIs can be transmitted to and through hospital staff and visitors, as well as patients. More frequent and efficient disinfecting and cleaning techniques can help solve many of these problems.

Uses

  • Hospitals
  • clinics
  • physician offices
  • urgent care centers
  • ambulatory surgical centers
  • public health clinics
  • imaging centers
  • oncology clinics
  • dialysis centers
  • ambulatory behavioral health and substance abuse clinics
  • physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and more.

Target Areas

  • Patient rooms
  • operating rooms
  • ICU
  • emergency room
  • waiting rooms
  • examination rooms
  • common areas
  • imaging equipment
  • exam tables
  • physical therapy equipment, and more.

The SD Labs' Approach:

While HAIs are among the most common adverse events in healthcare today, new technologies can be utilized to help mitigate them. Although there is no single solution to preventing them, through a combination of strategies it is possible to greatly decrease their frequency. By enabling more frequent disinfecting with our Electrolyzed Water, E Water, unit and through the commercial application of SD Pro long-lasting surface coating technology, Global Shield Solutions can help Healthcare Facilities effectively control damaging bacteria, fungi, algae and mold on a wide variety of surfaces throughout the healthcare environment.

Much of the time medical professionals are relegated to treating patients who have contracted infections after the fact. And while there are preventative measures prescribed by the CDC and infectious disease specialists, those are predicated on individuals following rigid protocols. Frequent and thorough hand sanitizing, sanitization of surroundings and disinfection of equipment between uses are all important methods of controlling the spread of infection. However, at best they are only as effective as the individuals tasked with performing them. By contrast, an enhanced approach can be to treat high risk areas to help control bacteria, mold, and fungi which can cause stains, odors and surface deterioration. While proper hygiene, regular cleaning and good habits should not be ignored, the treatment of large areas, common touchpoints, and targeted items with SD Pro can help to enhance your organization’s approach to surface contaminant control.