'Regardless of its concentration alcohol is practically not effective on bacterial spores' (e.g. A.E. Simor et al: Clostridium difficile in Long-Term-Care Facilities for the Elderly. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Nov, 2002, p. 696-703; G. McDonnell, A.D. Russell: Antiseptics and Disinfectants: Activity, Action, and Resistance. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, Jan. 1999, p. 147-179.)
Alcohol-based hand rubs can therefore not reduce bacterial spores, unless they contain additional ingredients with sporicidal activity. It is important for us to state that tests must include a standardized and validated neutralization which is not compulsory in most countries test methods, which may result in false positive efficacy data.
With regards to our product Sterillium Rub...it has been tested on the vegetative cell form of Clostridium difficile, ATCC 9689, and achieved at a contact time of 15 seconds a log10 reduction of 6.02.
In order to reduce bacterial spores on health-care workers hands;
We recommend the following procedure: Perform a hand disinfection with an alcohol based hand rub to kill the vegetative cell form of Clostridium difficile. Then, wash the hands with a soap, the spores are swept away and a reduction between 2 and 2.5 log10 steps can be achieved. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings: Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practice Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. MMWR 2002-51 p.17; D.J. Weber, W.A. Rutala et al: Efficacy of Selected Hand Hygiene Agents Used to Remove Bacillus atrophaeus From Contaminated Hands. JAMA, March 2003, p. 1274-1277.).
Yours Sincerely,
Russell Johnson
RSSL MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC.
5354, rue Snowdon
Montréal (Québec) H3X 1Y4
Tél. : (514) 236-7019
Téléc. / Fax : (514) 486-3624
Courriel / E-Mail: russell@rsslmedical.ca
http://www.sterillium.ca