A FRESH WAY TO APPROACH INFECTION CONTROL

While it often seems as if the simplest and best approach to a process is the one that is already in place, such is obviously not always the case. In the healthcare space, infection control is an area that demands constant attention and innovation, rather than setting a process and using it for years without considering possible superior alternatives. As a hypochlorous acid supplier, 21st Century Healthcare Inc. is proud to bring hospitals and other medical facilities a new approach to infection control, one that is incredibly effective against pathogens while also providing cost savings, waste reduction, and other benefits.

Hypochlorous Acid

The hypochlorous acid (HOCl) onsite disinfectant generator supplied by 21st Century Healthcare Inc. makes it possible for medical facilities to take advantage of the amazing potential of hypochlorous acid to disinfect hard, nonporous surfaces with an unprecedented level of convenience. Managers in charge of sanitizing and disinfecting at healthcare facilities love partnering with hypochlorous acid suppliers, due to the compound’s ability to kill many viruses and bacteria while avoiding many of the toxicity, VOC production, and other issues associated with chemical disinfectants. HOCl uses an unusual mechanism to attack and kill pathogens, and even antibiotic resistant strains are no match for it. The key to success for hypochlorous acid is its ability to pass through electrically charged cell walls freely, thus allowing it to kill harmful cells from the inside.

Anolyte and Catholyte Fluids

An HOCl onsite disinfectant generator (the Annihilyzer^Ⓡ) starts with a mixture of sodium chloride and water, executing a water electrolysis process to rearrange the molecules into anolyte and catholyte fluids. The anolyte fluid (OSG 460 D) includes hypochlorous acid and is very effective as a disinfectant against C. diff, TB, MRSA, norovirus, salmonella, and many other pathogens.

The catholyte fluid (OSG 11-12) produced by the Annihilyzer^Ⓡ also serves an important purpose in the process of cleaning and disinfecting healthcare spaces. It is a powerful surfactant and degreaser, safe for use in all contexts where vulnerable patients may be present. After cleaning a patient room or exam room with OSG 11-12, staff can use OSG 460 D to disinfect the area, resulting in thorough disinfection and comprehensive infection control.

Annihilyzer^Ⓡ

The Annihilyzer^Ⓡ is the proprietary machine offered by 21st Century Healthcare Inc. as an HOCl onsite disinfectant generator. This piece of equipment is easy to store and easy to use in any medical facility, from the largest hospitals to small private medical practices. The Annihilyzer^Ⓡ produces both OSG 460 D and OSG 11-12 on demand, making it as simple as possible for staff to get disinfectant and cleaning fluid when they are needed. Rather than using traditional HOCl suppliers to have disinfectant shipped in bulk, facilities can install the Annihilyzer^Ⓡ, then produce fluids as needed without any shipping delays, potential supply chain disruptions, or generation of waste materials.

HOCl Spray Cart Application

One of the best ways to use the HOCl onsite disinfectant generator is to pair it with 21st Century Healthcare’s spray cart application. This compact machine is designed to spray OSG 460 D onto all surfaces of a room automatically, producing a fine mist that coats every surface. This approach solves one of the major deficiencies associated with manual spraying of disinfectant: incomplete infection control due to only partial coverage of areas where pathogens can grow. Using the spray cart to distribute OSG 460 D also saves time for hospital staff, as the unit can be set to spray in a room for a set amount of time and then left to function automatically.

Efficacy of HOCl

Why are hospitals moving toward using a hypochlorous acid supplier rather than using traditional chemical products for disinfection? A major part of the reason is its efficacy. Using an HOCl onsite disinfectant generator, a facility can kill up to 99.9999% of the product label listed pathogens. This is possible due to the mechanism mentioned before, by which the neutral-charge HOCl passes through cell walls, then kills the cell from the inside using free available chlorine. This is the same mechanism that hypochlorous acid uses in the human body when it is produced naturally by the immune system. Of particular interest to hospitals is the power of hypochlorous acid against MRSA and other antibiotic resistant strains. Due to the difficulty of killing these pathogens once they have entered the body, it is necessary whenever possible to eradicate them in the environment before infection can occur.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Using a hypochlorous acid supplier for disinfection allows a medical facility to avoid a major problem that is quickly gaining attention in the healthcare community. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are produced by many cleaning and disinfecting products, lingering in the atmosphere and threatening the health of both healthcare workers and patients that inhale them during long periods of exposure. The OSG 460 D produced by our HOCl onsite disinfectant generator does not release any VOCs into the atmosphere, nor does the OSG 11-12 surfactant.

A final significant environmental factor is the reduction of waste materials generated by a facility that uses disinfectant generated on site. This system eliminates the use of wood pallets, wrapping, and plastic containers that are usually used for bulk shipping of fluids. Instead, staff simply uses the Annihilyzer^Ⓡ to produce fluid when needed, saving storage space and employee hours that would otherwise be spent placing orders, receiving shipments, storing bulk HOCl, and disposing of waste. With hospital personnel already strained and waste reduction mandates increasingly handed down by state and local governments, this is a valuable area of investment particularly for large facilities.

THE FUTURE OF INFECTION CONTROL

The efficiency, convenience, and power of using an HOCl onsite disinfection generator make the Annihilyzer^Ⓡ an important part of the future of infection control in healthcare contexts. 21st Century Healthcare Inc. has knowledgeable experts on staff, including a resident pathologist, to discuss this exciting system with clients and answer any questions that facility managers may have about its implementation.