Ecolab launches disinfectant against Clostridium difficile
The hard surface disinfectant has been approved by the US EPA
Ecolab has launched Virasept, a ready-to-use (no mixing required) hard surface disinfectant approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency as being effective against Clostridium difficile spores.
Over the past few years the incidence of Clostridium difficile has been on the rise in healthcare settings with studies showing it affecting more than 7,000 patients in US hospitals each day with an estimated cost of US$18 m to $52 m.
"Environmental services departments continue to face increasingly more virulent and persistent pathogens as they work to keep healthcare facilities clean," said Paul Chaffin, vice president, Ecolab Healthcare North America. "Developing effective methods to clean rooms contaminated with Clostridium difficile is particularly challenging due to the persistence of the spore in the environment. Virasept is an effective, non-bleach alternative that can help reduce the environmental transmission of challenging microorganisms like Clostridium difficile."
Virasept works within 10 minutes of application against Clostridium difficile spores and in four minutes or less for a broad spectrum of other pathogens, including MRSA, VRE, E. coli, HIV, Hepatitis B, Influenza A (H1N1), and Norovirus.
Its patented, non-corrosive chemistry is formulated for daily cleaning of high-touch room surfaces such as hand rails, telephones, bathroom fixtures, sinks and tray tables without harming the equipment. Virasept cleans, disinfects and deodorises in one-step, helping to reduce the need for inventory of multiple products.