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Why disinfect when you can Tristel?

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Since it was first discovered that microbes cause infection, there has been a continued search for methods to destroy them. Some of the earliest weapons developed, phenolics for example, have been withdrawn for safety reasons. The remaining solutions that we rely on today – such as quaternary ammonium compounds, hypochlorites and chlorine – all have their drawbacks but continue to be used due to the limited choices available. Tristel’s chlorine dioxide chemistry represents something better.

It’s Safer

Tristel’s chlorine dioxide chemistry has an unblemished health and safety record spanning more than 20 years. Extensive toxicological testing has proven that Tristel’s chlorine dioxide chemistry is neither a sensitiser nor an irritant. Hospitals using Tristel’s chlorine dioxide chemistry have not reported any cases of occupational asthma, which can be associated with using chlorine. 

Tristel Fuse for Surfaces is a high-level sporicidal disinfectant for large surface areas. Upon bursting one sachet, the organic compounds sodium chlorite and citric acid are mixed without compromising staff and patient safety. 

The working solution of Tristel Fuse for Surfaces, which is created upon diluting one sachet into 5L of cold water, is not classified as hazardous under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation which came into force on 1 June 2015. 

Apart from Tristel’s chlorine dioxide chemistry being safe for staff, it is also safe for hospital equipment due to its unique mode of action and short contact time. 

It’s faster

A surface disinfectant is only effective if it kills microorganisms within the natural drying time of the surface, without causing damage to it. This means that it has to be able to act fast at low concentrations.

Tristel’s chlorine dioxide chemistry is effective against all microorganisms, including those responsible for outbreaks such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff), Norovirus, VRE and MRSA. Tristel Fuse for Surfaces’ contact time is five minutes, which makes it among the fastest and most effective disinfectants for surfaces on the market. 

It’s smarter

Tristel’s chlorine dioxide chemistry is effective even at low concentrations because of its unique qualities. For alternative solutions such as chlorine to reach Tristel’s sporicidal efficacy, 25 tablets have to be diluted into 5L of water, which results in a solution that is toxic for staff and corrosive for surfaces. 

Innovative delivery systems ensure that Tristel’s proprietary chlorine dioxide chemistry is delivered safely, rapidly and at one effective concentration for each application. 

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust have benefited from the unique characteristics of Tristel’s chlorine dioxide chemistry. 

1000 days free of Clostridium difficile

Since its introduction to market in 1998, Tristel’s chlorine dioxide chemistry has helped hospitals around the world to prevent outbreaks and increase hygiene standards.

In August 2012, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust set out to achieve 100 days free of C. diff in all departments of its hospitals in Coventry and Rugby.

Kate Prevc, matron for infection prevention and control, and her team instigated a whole new approach for infection prevention and started working closely with Tristel. One of the team’s campaigns is called WIPE Wednesday, centring on the WIPE acronym: Wash your hands, Isolate promptly, Prudent antibiotic prescribing and Environmental cleaning. 

“Tristel is key to the ‘E’ in WIPE”, Kate explains: “It was important for us to move away from the historical use of chlorine for a number of reasons. Chlorine dioxide is incredibly effective, and without doubt has had a huge impact on our infection figures. It is a cell destroyer, which means that there is no chance of any micro-organism adapting. In the case of any outbreak we simply use it more often. Tristel’s chlorine dioxide chemistry is also non-corrosive and since the change from chlorine, we have not had any cases of occupational asthma.”   

Following another campaign against C. diff called “100 days”, the UHCW Infection Control team reached fantastic results: by the beginning of 2014, every ward had achieved 100 days free of C. diff, 95% had reached 200 days and 14 wards achieved a year clear. May 2015 has now seen an incredible milestone of 1000 days free of C. diff. Allison Bradley, infection control nurse at UHCW, explains how the team achieved this: 

“We have continued to deliver ‘Power Training’ to all areas, consisting of a short, direct message with the aid of the acronym WIPE. We set up a database to track how many days each department had managed to achieve. Stool Smart charts were given to wards with a personalised target based on their previous five year average. 

“This allowed an additional level of meaning to be attributed to the data. We recognised specific challenges and established realistic, achievable targets accordingly.” 

Nurses at Coventry continue to use Tristel Fuse for Surfaces and Tristel Jet trigger spray as part of their ongoing infection prevention initiatives. 

Allison concludes: “Increasing engagement and staff ownership of C. diff has now resulted in all wards achieving 100 days free, 70% of wards are now over ‘a year clear’ and six wards have reached an amazing 1000 days free of C. diff.” 

Tristel Fuse for Surfaces: 

Packaged in convenient, easy to use burstable sachets containing base and activator solutions, Tristel Fuse for Surfaces delivers high-level disinfection of floors, walls and general hard surfaces. No counting, weighing or calculations are needed to make up a working solution at the right concentration. 

Effective against a wide range of organisms, Fuse is ready to use with just a single dilution. The inclusion of a powerful surfactant ensures a thorough cleaning effect and, unlike chlorine releasing agents, there is little odour and no health and safety or disposal issues. 

 

Tristel Jet for Surfaces: 

Tristel Jet is a cleaning and high-level sporicidal disinfectant solution, specifically designed to kill harmful organisms such as C.diff, Norovirus and MRSA on near-patient surfaces in short contact times. Tristel Jet is available in a gel or liquid spray format, with a unique reusable trigger head that prohibits internal contamination of the bottle.

 

Tristel Solutions Limited, 
Lynx Business Park
Cambs,
CB8 7NY  
T +44 (0) 1638 721500  
E mail@tristel.com  
W www.tristel.com

 

 

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Upcoming Events

Central Sterilising Club - Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Crowne Plaza at Gerrard’s Cross
15th April 2024 – 16th April 2024

DECON UK 2024

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
17th April 2024

Infection Prevention & Control

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
23rd - 24th April 2024

Theatres & Decontamination Conference 2024

Coventry Building Society Arena
16th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Birmingham

Millennium Point, Birmingham
18th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Exeter

University of Exeter
22nd June 2024

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

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