The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends practicing good hand hygiene by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. To maintain a clean environment, they also recommend establishing cleaning procedures incorporating the use of EPA approved surface disinfectants for frequently touched surfaces that come into direct contact with people’s skin. Source

Studies indicate that fewer than 50% of primary school students wash their hands for longer than 5 seconds. When placed in cafeteria’s, hallways, athletic facilities and other “high-touch” areas, waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizers such as Crosstex’s Sanityze^®, a waterless moisturizing antimicrobial gel, are convenient and fast. This convenience and easy availability is likely to increase hand hygiene compliance.

Crosstex can help…
Deciding what measures to take and what products to use to prevent the spread of infection can be confusing. With all the different strains of bacteria and viruses to worry about, product claims against those microorganisms can be confusing. Crosstex’s Sanityze^® waterless gel hand sanitizer and Sanitex Plus^® and Sani-Cloth^® surface disinfectants are listed by the EPA as safe and effective against a number of bacteria and viruses, including MRSA, and we have the data to support those claims.

Crosstex has been serving the dental and healthcare markets since 1953. Now, several of our products that have been developed specifically for the healthcare profession are being made available to schools, business, and other markets. We’re not a “virtual” web provider or distributor…we are a manufacturer of the highest quality, EPA and FDA (where required) approved infection prevention and control products. Our products, such as Sanityze^® waterless gel hand sanitizer and Sanitex Plus^® disinfecting wipes and solutions need to be safe and effective, yet gentle enough for healthcare workers to use frequently…they’ll work for you as well. Call us at 973-890-7220 or e-mail us at MRSAhelp@cantelmedical.com for product information and to request samples. Crosstex can help.

Hand Hygiene

The Hand Hygiene Guidelines Fact Sheet lists “Fast Facts” about hand hygiene guidelines.  Among them…

• Improved adherence to hand hygiene (i.e. hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand rubs) has been shown to terminate outbreaks in health care facilities, to reduce transmission of antimicrobial resistant organisms (e.g. methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus-MSRA) and reduce overall infection rates.

• Alcohol-based hand rubs, such as Sanityze^® significantly reduce the number of microorganisms on skin, are fast acting and cause less skin irritation (than repeated hand washing of healthcare workers).

• Alcohol-based hand rubs take less time to use than traditional hand washing. In an eight-hour shift, an estimated one hour of an ICU nurse's time will be saved by using an alcohol-based hand rub.

Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings - Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force.
 
Full (and detailed) text of the 2002 published guideline.  Specific to healthcare workers, it emphasizes:

• “Easy access to hand hygiene supplies, whether sink, soap, medicated detergent, or alcohol-based hand rub solution, is essential for optimal adherence to hand hygiene recommendations.”

• “If hands are not visibly soiled, use an alcohol-based hand rub for routinely decontaminating hands in all other clinical situations described in items 1C--J (IA) (74,93,166,169,283,294,312,398). Alternatively, wash hands with an antimicrobial soap and water in all clinical situations described in items 1C--J (IB) (69-71,74). “

The Hand Hygiene Resource Center is a project of the Saint Raphael Healthcare System and John M. Boyce, M.D. The Center’s mission is to advance the quality of patient care and reduce infection by improving hand hygiene practices in healthcare settings.  This site shares the latest CDC recommendations and offers a short powerpoint presentation highlighting the latest issues and methods to reduce infection through hand hygiene practices. The Center provides current and accurate information on hand hygiene practices, participates in the research and development of improved hand hygiene practices, and provides materials for the implementation of public and professional education programs designed to promote awareness of such practices.

Surface Disinfectants

True EPA-approved disinfectants, such as (ours), contain ingredients that destroy bacteria.  These products should be labeled as “disinfectants” and should display an EPA registration number. Crosstex disinfectants are listed with the EPA as being safe and effective against MRSA and many other microorganisms and have EPA approved “kill rate” claims. Sanitex Plus^® And Sani-Cloth^® Surface Disinfectants Kill Rate Claims and Sanityze^® Sanitizer Kill Rate Claims.

Call 973-890-7220 or e-mail MRSAhelp@cantelmedical.com for product information and to request samples.

MRSA in Schools
Concise and up-to-date Q&A about Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Schools

CDC MRSA Podcast An Oct 23rd, 2007 CDC (Center for Disease Control) podcast that provides up-to-date guidance on preventive measures against MRSA.  Among other recommendations, the 4-5 minute discussion recommends hand hygiene using soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers as well as routine disinfecting measures of high-touch surfaces.
 
Overview of Healthcare-associated MRSA - Detailed discussion of healthcare associated MRSA
 
Overview of Community-Associated MRSA - Detailed discussion of community associated MRSA with link to questions and answers to MRSA in schools.

OSAP
OSAP is a global dental organization that is dedicated to promoting infection control and safety policies and practices supported by science and research.

Kill Rate Claims

Sanityze^® Sanitizer Kill-Rate Claims

Sanitex Plus^® And Sani-Cloth^® Surface Disinfectants Kill-Rate Claims