Slay the Bugs

What are the Germiest Places in Schools?

Slay the Bugs — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:28:38 +0000

I know it is hard to believe that we are in the middle of flu season since we have had a really mild winter in the south. This time of year parents have to make the decision if their child’s illness is bad enough to keep him/her home from school. Most school nurses say it is OK for children to miss school. They had rather parents keep their kids at home to prevent the germs from spreading. In an article in the Northwest Herald yesterday, it states that it’s underdstandable why parents send their children to school considering how often kids get sick. According to CDC, 22 million to 189 million school days are lost each year because of colds alone. Children average 8 colds a year.

Respiratory droplets in coughs and sneezes are easily transfered among children. Germs are spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person or surface and then touches their eyes, mouth or nose. Some viruses can live hours or days on surfaces such as caferteria tables, doorknobs and desks.

According to the same article in the Northwest Herald, the 5 germiest places in schools are:

The restroom. The epicenter of cross contamination. Peter Sheldon, a health based cleaning expert who speaks on the topic,says “A lot of germs start there and spread throughout the school”.

The water fountain. Can have 27 million germs per square inch.

Desktops. They hold 400 times more bacteria on average than a toilet seat. 100 times more bacteria than the kitchen table

The pencil sharpener.

The computer keyboard.

A simple uncovered sneeze in a classroom can infect many children. It can’t be eliminated 100% with the current cleaning protocol. Doorknobs would have to be cleaned everytime they are touched. A study at the University of Arizona found that wiping down desks nightly reduced absenteeism in schools by as much as 50%. But not many schools have the time or personnel to complete that task. The long term solution is education and the push for cleaner schools.

February Is the Peak of Flu Season

Slay the Bugs — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:03:56 +0000

How can we keep people well this time of year? February is the peak of flu season. There are approximately 97 million cases of the flu reported annually. This results in 75 million sick days. Guess how much that costs employers. Over $10 billion…yes with a “b”. The time to pay attention to infection is now, before you or your employees get sick. Smart companies today are adopting a preventive strategy, one that is proactive, not reactive.

Don’t depend entirely on people-oriented solutions. Although hand sanitizers and disinfectants are the most common infection preventive, not everyone uses them conscientiously. Make sure your facility is cleaned thoroughly every day with a disinfectant and if at all possible get your space treated with a protectant.

Provide hand-sanitizing products. Hand hygiene is important, and the data shows that hand sanitizers are one of the best ways to control and prevent infection. But not all sanitizers are effective, nor are they all appealing to use. Sanitizers that are gentle and have longer-lasting agents make a difference. Look for ones with alcohol or silver and a moisturizing ingredient so to not dry the skin. The ROI will be more than you ever expect….fewer sick days.

Take the initiative. Get ahead of the problem, don’t just react to it. Your company or place of business has a huge opportunity to take the lead regarding infection and set the example for your community. Prevention is not just a healthcare issue; community acquired infections (CAI) are growing at rapid rates. Infection education and preventive initiatives for any organization should be a priority, as they lead to cleaner, more sanitary public spaces.

More health conscientious companies are taking precautions and making the effort to protect their employees from harmful bacteria and viruses. Disinfectants, hand sanitizers and protective coatings are an ideal line up for keeping the sick days down and significantly lower employer costs.

For Your Safety…Quiz the Gym Manager

Slay the Bugs — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 03:20:16 +0000

Would you change gyms… if you found out the gym down the street had an antimicrobial protectant on their equipment and in the locker rooms? And, the members of that gym are not concerned about contracting any of the “super bugs” that are going around work out facilities today.

Since germs are so wide-spread in athletic clubs and gyms, members are going to start expecting more than a daily cleaning. Disinfecting the locker rooms, cardio equipment and weights is as good as the person doing the job. What if the cleaning person misses a spot or a weight bench? MRSA can live up to 9 weeks on a surface. That is scary. Ask your gym manager what they are doing to protect you from the spread of infections. Ask what products they use and what the protocol is. This is for your safety!!

Being Careful Is Not Always Enough

Slay the Bugs — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:46:16 +0000

I read an article today from a piece that aired on CNN on January 6, 2011. The title is Don’t Let a Hospital Kill Your Child. It described how a young girl went into a hospital to have an operation and contracted an infection. The infection was C-diff and it is more common than ever among hospitalized children. A study found that C-diff infections have gone up 15% in hospitalized children. Dr Peter Pronovost from Johns Hopkins University says “most of these infections are preventable”.

I agree that many infections can be prevented. But the healthcare facilities need more to aid in the fight. Most infection prevention and control programs are people dependent . If staff or a visitor forgets to wash their hands or use precaution, there is risk. With the widespread rise in antibiotic resistant infections, maintaining a sanitary work environment is essential. Due to the fast pace of the hospital environment, people do forget sometimes. Being careful is not always enough.

Expanding Corporate Wellness

Slay the Bugs — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 03:24:38 +0000

I read a great article today in the Harvard Business Review. It was about the return on investment for corporate wellness programs. There is solid evidence that employers who invest in the health of their employees see the financial rewards. We all know keeping people healthy and at work will improve our bottom line. But, is it only about exercising and smoking cessation? No, we have to keep our employees protected from infectious diseases. Offices with many employees, lots of meetings and people who come to work sick, are prone to the spread of flu, viruses and staph.

Education on the spread of infectious disease should be the next addition to all corporate wellness programs. Awareness will promote better habits and lower the risk of H1N1 or MRSA being transmitted from employee to employee. Unfortunately, most infection prevention and control procedures are dependent on people. The staff have to understand the importance of disinfectants.

Corporate wellness is about preventing short and long term disease. We can keep the bottom line in the black if we keep our people well. Let’s add education on reducing the spread of infectious disease to our corporate programs.

Everyone Has an Infection Story

Slay the Bugs — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 02:14:49 +0000

When I tell people I have a product that aids in reducing the spread of bacteria and viruses, the person I am talking to always has a story. I had lunch with 2 different business people this week. Neither of them work in the health care field. Each of them told me a disturbing story about someone they know that had a HAI. Both patients stayed in the hospital 80+ days over what their original diagnosis would have required. Both patients nearly lost their lives. The stories were upsetting and made me know that I have chosen the right product, OxiArmor, to bring to the market. All healthcare facilities need more effective and cost efficient products to help in their goal to wipe out healthcare acquired infections.

I don’t usually promote my product on my blog but this week’s events made things crystal clear for me. I am selling something that is going to make a difference. www.medinetsystems.com

Thanks!

Slay the Bugs — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:18:31 +0000

Thank you for taking infection control and prevention seriously.