This article by a bio-chemist working in the field of infection control biocides is offered as a background information source for the professional as well as the thoughtful general public
We have seen over the past few years many products which previously have been used for the health and well-being of both people being banned by the government these include natural, homeopathic and drugs.
Products used for simple treatments, disinfectants, insect repellents or other health aids to companion animals and pets have been or are being outlawed in the bureaucratic mayhem caused by the rushed and often ill considered implementation of regulations brought into place since the UK's entry into the EU.
We often groan when we read about some of the seemingly ridiculous edicts handed out from Brussels and 'gold plated' by our civil service; it is likely they do not affect us directly and we just forget them.
But some of these restrictions and rules have potentially far more serious consequences for us in our own systems of public healthcare.
Take for example the rise in MRSA and Clostridium difficile in our hospitals.
A combination of over use of anti-biotics and the restriction in the availability of really good sensible active disinfection programs has seriously weakened our ability to control the worst of these life threatening infections.
These dangerous diseases which readily mutate are a growing source of cross-infection risk due to the absence of proper hospital cleaning regimes.
Spore producing virulent strains C Difficile H027.
As a company and one that works with the NHS we are becoming aware that it is quite common for cleaning companies contracted to the NHS to clean using only washing up liquid for economy.
We are told this is in line with DOH guidelines.
Do you remember as a child the distinctive 'smell' of a hospital? On your last visit to one did it smell clean and hygienic, really clean! Likely as not, no.
This is because we no longer are allowed to use phenolic disinfectants due to a perceived health danger for those working with them.
The case against phenolics has not been proved.
They had been used since the last quarter of the 19th century without any ill effects being recorded.
Now their demise has allowed other super-bugs to take a grip.
It would have been quite within the scope and power of the DOH to seek derogation from the EU regulations to continue the use of certain actives to enable the eradication or certainly reduction of hospital acquired infections.
The cost of the substitutes are higher than the older, proven products.
We have nothing to gain from the new biocides; the NHS pays more as well as suffering serious hygiene breakdown.
We are told that these problems originally arose due to over use of anti-biotics which in turn were used in an effort to overcome the many serious deficiencies in infection control practices in hospitals.
For example the incidence of MRSA in intensive care units is minute compared to the number of cases on general wards.
This differential can easily be attributed to a lack of hygiene and cleaning control, mainly due to system breakdown or poor cleaning due to cost cutting and by the rise in freelance contractors.
For instance - why are wards not depopulated, cleaned, disinfected and rested before the next batch of ill patients are admitted? As an aside, all farm animal production units would do this to prevent disease burden in the stock.
In fact, the hygiene in a food production unit is more severe and more regulated than that of most hospitals.
The HSE has had absolute power delegated to it to control and police this situation.
This in turn is costing the manufacturing industry, such as my own company, a fortune in new regulations and licensing and wasteful administration.
I and my colleagues have seen many very useful, effective and totally harmless products being needlessly eliminated from the list of products available for use by cosmetic and healthcare companies.
These regulations (which have put unrealistic financial pressure on manufacturers of these harmless and very useful ingredients) impose the need to provide a 'drug master file, even though these products have been in common and safe use for many decades.
This is simply over-regulation and another overburdened and needless cost on industry and society in general.
These factors coupled with the continued downward pressure from retailers and health authorities to insist that products are offered to them at lower and lower prices has resulted in weaker formulations of, among other things, cleaning and hygiene products.
A case in point: Hycolin, one of the most effective of these 'actives', has been banned.
Sadly there are few realistic alternatives which are universally available and as versatile.
However Bio-Tech Solutions has developed a hospital disinfectant, BioSureHD 2%, a ready-to-use safe and effective alternative.
This general purpose disinfectant is specifically designed for surface disinfection after the floors have been cleaned with a good general purpose detergent (not washing up liquid!) which is used to remove organic materials prior to disinfection.
This is the simple and straightforward method for effective cleaning and should be adhered to by all involved in hospital and medical area cleaning.
