Torbay Acute NHS Trust and Torbay PCT have evaluated Virusolve+ and found it to be effective against C diff spores; this has resulted in a new protocol being drawn up and is now published
Clostridium difficile (C diff) is a bacterium that is present naturally in the gut of around 3% of adults and 66% of children.
C diff does not cause any problems in healthy people.
However, some antibiotics that are used to treat other health conditions can interfere with the balance of 'good' bacteria in the gut.
When this happens, C diff bacteria can multiply and cause symptoms such as diarrhoea and fever.
As C diff infections are usually caused by antibiotics, most cases usually happen in a healthcare environment, such as a hospital, or care home.
Older people are most at risk from infection, with the majority of cases (80%) occurring in people over the age of 65.
Most people with a C diff infection make a full recovery.
However, in very rare cases the infection can be fatal.
The number of C diff cases rose 7% between 2005 and 2006, to 55,620 in 2006.
One of the main reasons for this rise is the improvement in tests to diagnose the infection, but there has clearly been an increase in the number of cases.
In most cases, C diff infections can be prevented by ensuring good hygiene practices in healthcare environments.
However, it is extremely contagious and is spread very easily.
Ram Singh Technical Director / CEO said: "This represents the most stringent testing any product can undergo, ie, in a real world situation used at ward level, not just in a test tube or Petri dish.
"We are delighted to have Virusolve+ confirmed as the brand leader that it is.
"The healthcare sector has long awaited an alternative to chlorine based agents; which corrode metals, degenerate plastics and cause respiratory problems.
"This approval will allow them to move forward and away from these problems.
"It will also be welcomed as a safer alternative for the employees (domestics and nurses) and patients who use or are exposed to these chemicals when maintaining the critical standards of hospital hygiene.
"Amity's worldwide network of distributors and healthcare specialists can now provide clinical data to help save thousands of lives and reduce HAI's (hospital acquired infections) to achieve government targets not only in UK but worldwide to help hospitals keep their facilities clean and decontaminated.
"Virusolve+ is proven to be bactericidal, fungicidal, virucidal and sporicidal while being non-hazardous to human health, non-corrosive and biodegradable".
