It is vital to incorporate effective infection control programmes in a medical environment, in order to minimise the risk of cross-infections to patients, staff and visitors. Such programmes will reduce the incidence of mortality and morbidity associated with nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections. This is obviously an ethical necessity, but an effective programme will also reduce the costs to a medical institution, and free up beds that are otherwise occupied by a patient who has acquired a nosocomial infection.

The UK National Audit Office advises that 9% of hospital patients acquire a nosocomial infection. This is equivalent to 100,000 infections per year.

Of 10,000 European patients in intensive care, 45% contracted a nosocomial infection.

In the USA, 2 million patients acquired nosocomial infections in 1992 at a cost of >$4million.

Example :

If the cost of an Infection Control Programme = €300,000 (250 bed hospital with 8,000 admissions)

 

Nosocomial infections average an extra 4 hospital days per infection. At an extra cost of €750/day, the total cost = €3000 per infection

 

Assuming 9% nosocomial infections, there are 720 infection each year at a total cost of €2,160,000

 

The break-even cost/saving occurs at 100 infections per year

An effective infection control programme will include surveillance activities, control procedures and best practices. Validated disinfection procedures are an integral part of any programme

Klorsept Tablets

Klorsept are effervescent tablets which, when added to water, release disinfectant solutions of known and reliable in-use strengths. Both tablets utilise the ingredient sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), which is an organic chlorine donor that releases the active compound, hypochlorous acid. NaDCC is not a hypochlorite. Its chemistry and mode of action in solution is significantly different than hypochlorite, giving an activity that is substantially more effective, particularly where there may be organic contamination.

The Klorsept product presentations and tablet sizes have been formulated to ensure that in-use dilutions are easily understood and as follows:

Klorsept Granules

 

Klorsept Granules are a non-effervescent composition used for the disinfection and absorption of liquid spillages, particularly body fluids and blood/blood products. Blood is the single most important source of HIV, HBV, Ebola and other bloodborne pathogens. Klorsept granules will tend to absorb the spillage, will coagulate blood and will safely disinfect, on shaking the granules over the spillage. After a few minutes the composite can be safely removed for incineration or disposal.

Klorsept Granules also utilise the active, NaDCC. Each 100g releases over 50,000 mg/l available chlorine and will contain, disinfect and absorb 1 to 2 litres of spillage.

The Klorsept Granules are available in shaker-packs of 200 and 500gm.

Validation

Klorsept have been validated effective against:

• Bacteria, including Campylobacter, E.coli0157, Enterococcus, Leptospira, Listeria, Mycobacteria, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and many others.
• Fungi, including Aspergillus, Candida and others
• Spores, including Bacillus, Clostridium etc.
• Viruses, including HIV, HBV, Herpes, Poliomyelitis etc.

 

Application

The Klorsept family of products are used for high, intermediate and low level environmental surface disinfection, washing and cleaning surfaces and absorption and disinfection of body fluid spillages.

The products are manufactured to pharmaceutical standards (certified in accordance with EU Guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practice for medicinal products), thus guaranteeing their quality and effectiveness in use.

Markets

- Hospitals, clinics, dental practices, blood transfusion centres, ambulance service and other medical care settings.

- Prison and police services.

- Commercial and industrial settings, sports and fitness clubs etc.

Area of Use	Method of Use	Solution Strength
Food Preparation Washing minimally processed foods Food preparation surfaces	Leave to soak for 15 minutes in a Klorsept solution. Wipe over surfaces with a Klorsept (disinfection only) or Klor-Kleen solution (cleaning and disinfection), and leave for 15 minutes before use	50 mg/l 100mg/l
General Environment Intermediate and Low Risk Diagnostic rooms, patient areas, hydrotherapy pool surrounds, trolleys, instrument trays, medical equipment handles etc. Bedpans, linen, mops etc.	Wipe over surfaces with a Klorsept solution, and leave for 15 minutes before use Immerse items for 15 minutes	200mg/l
High Risk Operating theatres, post-mortem rooms, burns unit, intensive care, isolation units, clinical and pathology laboratories etc. Laboratory discard jars, pipettes etc.	Clean surfaces and then wash/wipe surfaces with a Klorsept solution. Leave for 15 minutes. Metallic surfaces should be rinsed with potable water afterwards Submerge discard items for 60 minutes before disposal	1000mg/l     2500mg/l
HIV, HBV and Similar Contaminated surface or equipment   Body fluid spillage (not urine)	Wash or wipe surfaces with a Klorsept or Klor-Kleen solution and leave for 15 minutes. Metallic surfaces should be rinsed with potable water afterwards. Shake Klorsept Granules on the spillage to completely cover and absorb the fluid. Wait 2-3 minutes and scoop up absorbed product. Wipe over the surface with a Klorsept or Klor-Kleen solution of 1000mg/l. Dispose of waste. Where granules are not available, the area should first be covered with paper towelling or other absorbent material and a Klorsept solution poured over the absorbent material and left for 10 minutes. The whole spill is then wiped up with fresh absorbent material and placed in a contaminated-waste container. The surface is then wiped with a Klorsept/Klor-Kleen solution of 1000mg/l	5,000mg/l     Granules     10,000mg/l