Study Links Sanitization To Student Absenteeism

June 17-DALLAS -- Researchers now show a link between schools that use (appropriate) hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes in the classroom and a decrease in absenteeism, NBC 5 reported.The study conducted at Children's Hospital in Boston shows fewer students missed class because of gastrointestinal illnesses when classroom surfaces were properly sanitized and student had ready access to hand sanitizer."Implementing is key. There has to be a continuous effort in terms of the teachers, (and) the school nurses, to remind these measures," said Octavio Ramilo, professor of pediatrics at Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Click on the post title link--an enlightened person posted an insightful comment regarding the distinctions between various hand sanitizer formulations on the NBC affiliate's website

Hand Hygiene For Flood Victims-Manufacturer Extends Helping Hand With Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizers

With continuing news stories coming from the Midwest re: water outtages and increasing concerns about spread of germs as a result of recent floods, MGS Soapopular, the US distributor of Soapopular brand is providing its alcohol-free/rinse free and fragrance free product to Midwest residents at 50% discount to all displayed prices.

The best way to procure in bulk is go to the company's on-line shopping site
In the last step of the shopping cart, you'll be prompted to enter a promotional code. Simply enter
Midwest50

Detroit Tigers Raise Their Hands: Comerica Park Installs Hand Sanitizer Kiosks-Using Alcohol-Free Formula

Comerica Park is the latest major sports arena to introduce CleanMedia's "Sanipost" hand hygiene kiosks throughout the complex. The 5ft tall devices are noticeable to all, and are delivering Soapopular's alcohol-free hand sanitizer formula to 40,000 fans per game--courtesy of MGS Soapopular

CDC Hand Hygiene: School Absenteeism: 22 Million School Days Lost

Jun 12, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Twenty-two million.That's how many school days children across America miss each year because of illness according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Exactly why programs that encourage hand washing coupled with implementation of appropriate hand sanitizing products (remember--many schools are BANNING ALCOHOL-BASED products and seeking out alcohol-free alternatives)

McDonald's Says Hold the Tomatoes: Salmonella Outbreak Raises New Hand Hygiene Concerns

Actually, McDonald's is just one of the many restaurant chains, along with a variety of grocers that are taking tomatoes off the shelf after an alarm was triggered that attributed raw tomatoes to a unique strain of Salmonella.

Whether this is a topic of real concern, or a ploy by a commodity trader to cause the price of tomatoes to drop remains to be seen. But what everyone has seen: ongoing recommendations to use proper hand hygiene, including the "when washing with soap and water isn't convenient, we recommend hand sanitizers.."

And every time we read that or hear it--we're obliged to say "if you're going to use a hand sanitizer, why in the world would you choose a product that causes the skin to become dry/irritated (and actually destroys skin cells that protect against bacteria), is flammable, toxic, and while destroying your skin, will also destroy industrial floor wax? Sounds nuts!

But its merely a matter of spreading the word: when spreading on a hand sanitizer--read the ingredients and the product claims and go with an alcohol-free product that is not only proven effective against a wide variety of pesky pathogens (including various strains of Salmonella, as well as MRSA, C.diff, Hepatitis) but is safer and friendlier to the skin-read the ingredients...

We still like the most popular brand on the market (yes, its called Soapopular)--aside from being available at leading retailers, including Wal-Mart and Target, we're told its the #2 hand sanitizer on Amazon.com and also the #5 in the 'antiseptic' category on Amazon.com ..Company execs say that over the past 3 months more than 250 schools across the US now have the product in hand (along with the company's wall mount dispensing systems)..Oxygen Magazine's August 2008 edition (on newsstands now) is the latest health-oriented publication to give this product a thumbs up..

C.diff the next superbug? Experts weigh hand sanitizers

Excerpt from recent article courtesy of McKnights.com, the publication serving the long term nursing care industry.

Prevention attention

Because MRSA and potentially other pathogens such as C. diff have spread beyond institutional walls and into the community, infection control professionals are on heightened alert to safeguard the vulnerable elderly and infirm populations.

“When it comes to the next pandemic, it is no longer a question of ‘if,' but ‘when,'” says Susan Duda-Gardiner, director of clinical services for the Illinois Council on Long-Term Care, on why hand hygiene is so integral to infection control.Duda-Gardiner said.

Could that pandemic be C. diff? The threat is real enough that APIC has launched a survey of infection control practitioners to determine its pervasiveness. The CDC reports that the number of states confirming the NAP1 C. diff strain jumped from 23 in February 2007 to 38 in November. While C. diff has been a longtime fixture on the long-term care scene, infection control professionals are concerned that its scope has spread and its toxicity is strengthening.

“The true magnitude of [C. diff] is still unknown,” APIC notes on its Web site. “Over the past 30 years, this pathogen has rapidly emerged as an important healthcare-associated infection, causing a spectrum of diseases, including diarrhea, colitis, toxic megacolon, sepsis and death. Other than the CDC's National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance data taken from approximately 250 hospital ICUs and patient discharge records, there are no national C. diff prevalence studies.”

Staff, resident and patient health is dependent upon hand hygiene compliance. Non-compliance places staff and residents at risk – it can ultimately lead to higher healthcare costs and could result in litigation.”

On the surface, hand washing seems like a rudimentary – almost innocuous – practice when compared to the complex nature of fortified germ breeds. Yet, as improbable as it might seem, cleansing with soap and water is nonetheless highly effective in stopping contagions cold.

“Regarding the spread of disease, we're talking about a multi-stage cycle – there is the microorganism itself, the mode of transmission, entry into a susceptible person and subsequent growth. Hand washing will cut off the infection at any point within that cycle,” Susan Duda-Gardiner, director of clinical services for the Illinois Council on Long-Term Care, on why hand hygiene is so integral to infection control.

Although soap and water cleansing may be the best method of hand washing, in reality, it can be difficult for busy workers to find a sink after every encounter. That is why hand sanitizers have become a popular and effective substitute, Duda-Gardiner said.

“Hand sanitizers are actually fairly new to the long-term care industry and they are phenomenal,” she said. “While soap and water is preferred – especially for C. diff — the sanitizers are great because of their portability and convenience. You can carry a bottle around in your pocket so that you can use it after every resident contact.”

Infection Control : Boston Children's Hospital Study

Boston Children's Hospital says that proper hand hygiene, including use of (appropriate) hand sanitizers, reduces frequency of illness...makes for interesting reading..