The War On Spores
Spores
If environmental conditions don’t suit bacteria, some varieties morph into a dormant state. These hibernating bacteria are called spores. Spores are harder to kill than vegetative bacteria because of their outer coating. Bacterial spores are the most resistant organism in the healthcare environment.
The most prominent bacterial spore in the healthcare environment today is Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff.). In its endospore form, C. Diff. can remain viable on surfaces for months. To be re-activated, the spore needs only to be ingested. In the USA alone, 29,000 die from C. Diff. each year, and the mortality rate for patients over 65 yrs is 11%.
The few disinfectants that are currently considered sporicidal against C. Diff. are hazardous chemistries such as hydrogen peroxide and bleach. Yradiant is formulating a suite of sporicidal products, including a unique hand sanitiser that will kill spores without the need for soap & water.
Biofilms
Biofilms are communities of micro-organisms, including bacteria. These create their own protective matrix and stick tenaciously to hard surfaces.
Biofilms may form on living or non-living surfaces. In home, workplace & healthcare environments they can be found on light switches, handles, arm rests, monitors, laptops, containers and tabletops.
They pose a serious problem because of the increased resistance to antimicrobial agents. Conventional disinfectants have proved largely ineffective against them. Yradiant is formulating a range of surface treatments that will include the ability to remove biofilms as a matter of course.