This episode is part of our in-depth coverage of the Healthcare Infection Transmission Systems Consortium (HITS) 2018 conference in Nashville, TN that took place September 18-20th. Check out all our HITS 2018 episodes here, and look for more throughout the month of October.
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Hospital cleaning is one of the most important activities in Infection Prevention and Control. However, chemical cleaners that aim to kill all of the microbes aren’t always as effective as you might think. At least not by themselves. And they have some serious side-effects too. Today’s guest is Michael Rochon, a pioneer chemical formulator and President of Process Cleaning Solutions Ltd. Michael explains why physical cleaning followed by disinfecting may be the best approach. It allows us to reduce the microbes to a safe level while lessening the side-effects of harsh chemicals on the hospital environment. Plus, and this is really fascinating, it reduces the spread of microbes that become immune to the chemicals. Just like overuse of antibiotics leads to antibiotic-resistance, over-use of harsh chemicals can lead to chemical resistant microbes. Once you bring in the potential savings from extending the life of hospital surfaces, Michael makes a strong scientific and business case for limiting the use of harsh chemicals in hospital cleaning.
Bringing Science to the Art of Hospital Cleaning
Highlights from our conversation:
- HITS 2018 is about finding better paths forward for stopping the spread of infections. PCS is a company dedicated to cleaning in a scientific manner to reduce environmental contaminants to a safe level.
- The terrible moment that inspired a campaign to find a safer way to clean.
- The research in physical wiping techniques that is changing how we clean hospitals and enabling the leap from sporicides to healthier alternatives.
- Chemical cleaner residues that are toxic promote more resistance to cleaners AND antibiotics.
- PCS will be publishing research that shows organic acid cleaners, with no synthetic chemicals, and microfiber cloth physical wiping techniques can reduce contaminants to safe levels with 325x less toxicity to aquatic and microbial life.
- Reducing microbes to safe levels is key.
- Infection prevention is a continuous event. What’s the appropriate target for manageable levels? More chemicals mean more mutations leading to more pathogens. It’s a cycle you can’t win. We must fix the problem with science!
- The new goals are to give health centers and schools the ability to test and verify that they are at safe levels. Practical microbial testing in the field gives everyone a way to evaluate their methods.
- We need to get people to understand the implications of their cleaning methods and use the right tool at the right time.
- The easiest win for your organization is to separate cleaning from disinfecting. These are two separate jobs. The physical removal of contamination on surfaces makes the disinfectant afterward more effective. This will be very effective at reducing the need for harsh chemicals in your organization.
- Harsh chemicals do damage to equipment, create more porous surfaces for microbes to cling to. The associated costs of these cleaning products are starting to show up.
- PCS is based out of Canada. Their organic acid cleaners are very successful with hospitals in Canada, now we want to have even more success with less chemistry needed with a goal of lower than 95%. Disinfectants are also approved and available in all 50 U.S. states and Mexico.
- In addition to working with HITS 2018 and Michael Diamond, Michael Rochon is also part of The Infection Prevention Strategy (TIPS). In Rochon’s advisory role, he is helping TIPS to pioneer new technologies and evaluates the latest science and discoveries.
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This episode was recorded on site at the HITS 2018 conference in Nashville, TN. Check out all our HITS 2018 episodes here, and look for more throughout the month of October.
Thank you to HITS, Christine Greene of NSF International, Kelly Reynolds of the University of Arizona and Michael Diamond of The Infection Prevention Strategy for working with us on this conference coverage. It was a great event, in a great city, attended by true heroes of Infection Prevention and Control from all over the world.
Be sure to check out the next HITS conference in August 2019 in Buffalo, NY!
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About The HITS 2018 Conference
The HITS 2018 Conference was held on September 18-20th in Nashville, TN. HITS 2018 offers a unique forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections and promoting “hospital health”. The 2018 HITS “Catalyst for Change” Conference is a working conference, bringing together research scientists, industry and healthcare professionals for an interdisciplinary and dynamic approach. We work together to understand and prevent the transmission of pathogens throughout the hospital facility through a collaborative effort that includes engaging in applied research. The conference is accredited as a provider for continuing education units (CEUs) through National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) and National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). Join us for this one-of-a-kind, multimodal event where researchers and experts from across disciplines will work toward identifying research gaps and applying data-driven methods in the field. Meet, greet and share ideas with the individuals and organizations who are growing and sustaining the industry as we explore creative and innovative solutions to this global problem. The full 2018 schedule can be found at https://hitsconsortium.org/2018-nashville/2018-schedule/
The HITS organizing committee has assembled world experts and key opinion leaders to share their knowledge and expertise. We host a research poster session to hear from those in healthcare about the research being conducted in their facilities. We also incorporate workshop breakout sessions each day in order to provide a unique forum through which everyone can interact and be innovative as we work to identify potential solutions to key barriers and develop an agenda for change moving forward into the next year. After the conference, members have the opportunity to become involved in one of the many research workgroups conducting research around pathogen transmission in healthcare.
Check out highlights from the HITS 2017 conference: https://hitsconsortium.org/2017-hits-highlight-reel/
For media inquiries: https://hitsconsortium.org/media/
For more information, please visit the HITS Consortium website: https://hitsconsortium.org/ or email us: info@HITSconsortium.org
Checkout our conference preview episode: HITS 2018 A Catalyst for Change in Infection Control – Episode 67 w/ Dr. Christine Greene and Dr. Kelly Reynolds.
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About Michael Rochon
Michael Rochon is a pioneer chemical formulator with a successful track record in developing low-odor and zero-V.O.C.-emission cleaning products. Michael’s ground breaking work in the field of new technology cleaning formulations has led to many patents including United States Patent 6,346,279 B1 Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectant with Increased Activity. For the past forty years, Michael has worked in the cleaning supply and contract maintenance industry.
Michael’s insight and vision led him to develop new technology cleaning formulations presently used in many hospitals. With foresight, he recognized the need for safer and healthier cleaning product formulations for the general public, and especially for the chemically hypersensitive individuals. Michael’s efforts in bringing to market low-odor cleaning products garnered him endorsements from several environmental organizations. Michael has also pioneered new technology cleaning formulations for disinfection and sanitization markets. Michael is President of Process Cleaning Solutions, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Process Cleaning Solutions is a Canadian company devoted to cleaning in such a way as to protect public health, protect the most sensitive, protect the environment and prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Michael is currently developing cleaning processes that physically remove bacteria and bacterial spores to the same level as disinfectants are required to kill or inactivate for registration as disinfectants. These processes are used with PCS products registered with the United States EPA and Health Canada as disinfectants, allowing institutions to shift the focus to better cleaning of health care facilities in a safer , more effective and sustainable manner.
As with Michael’s discovery of synergy between hydrogen peroxide, anionic surfactants and inorganic acids he has now discovered a synergy between PCS stabilized sodium hypochlorite’s and controlled moisture cleaning with micro fiber cloths.
This synergy allows for effective, safer and sustainable cleaning to protect public health including hospital isolation daily and discharge cleaning without the need to supplement cleaning with additional protocols like UV disinfection.
Michael also is committed to assisting Health care facilities validate cleaning process with onsite microbial testing. Cleaning to a scientifically validated standard.
Michael has presented at numerous conferences including: International Policy Forum, Environmental and Professional Hygiene, Toward the Prevention of Drug Resistant Infections, International Society of Microbial Resistance and Office of International Medical Policy School of Public Policy, George Mason University, 11th World Congress on Environmental Health Vancouver, Sept 2010.
Michael is an Advisory Board member at The Infection Prevention Strategy (TIPS).
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About Process Cleaning Solutions
Process Cleaning Solutions Ltd. is a new Canadian company devoted to cleaning in such a way as to:
• Protect Public Health • Protect The Most Sensitive Among Us • Protect The Environment • Prevent The Spread Of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
PCS has cleaning processes for hospitals, long term care, hospitality, professional service providers, day care and schools. Following a proven cleaning process provides confidence you are cleaning to protect public health. PCS provides all of the components and procedures to achieve consistent excellent results.
The PCS definition of cleaning to protect public health is as follows:
“Removal of organic surface contamination to very low levels not visually apparent, validated by scientific measurements with ATP monitoring or microbial testing.” In its marketing of Process Cleaning Solutions and cleaning processes, PCS is committed to working with all stakeholders to develop practical solutions to removing the most problematic contaminants from environmental surfaces to reducing the risk environmental surfaces pose in transferring disease causing pathogens.
Find more information about Process Cleaning Solutions and tons of additional education at: ProcessCleaningSolutions.com
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About the Healthcare Infection Transmission Systems (HITS) Consortium
The Healthcare Infection Transmission System Consortium is a not-for-profit organization serving the field of infection control and prevention. HITS takes a holistic perspective to targeting healthcare associated infections by including multiple disciplines in the conversation, including infection prevention, environmental services, construction and renovation, facilities management and engineering along with research scientists and industry experts. HITS focuses on the major avenues for pathogen transmission in hospitals: hands, surfaces, water and air. HITS provides the necessary, cross-disciplinary platform to share knowledge and engage in research regarding the prevention of healthcare-associated infections and promotion of overall hospital health.
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Related and/or Mentioned on the Show
Dr. Sattar Episode on understanding the spread of infectious agents in the environment.
The Infection Prevention Strategy (TIPS)
The Infection Prevention Strategy is a registered non-profit. We have created a model of information sharing that makes the process of vetting new technologies, implementing successful programs and inspiring innovation more efficient, more accessible, more global and more collaborative. Our global teams are driven by the firm belief that we should not have to wait years for promising innovations, ideas and processes to be implemented and accepted.
Around the world, our teams develop trials and conduct pilot studies to aid in the discovery of successful research to market technological advancements.
InfectionControl.tips is a Pan-Access journal that extends globally and touches locally. www.IC.tips is: Free to Publish. Free to Access and provides Accessible Scientific Services.
Check out all of the #HCBiz Show! Infection Prevention and Control coverage.
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