Immunosuppressed patients and other patients under extreme biological and mental stress (trauma areas, surgical recovery, emergency services, obstetrics, pediatrics, long-term care areas, etc.) are very susceptible to microbial contaminants as irritants, toxicants, sensitizers, and infectious organisms. With the environmental surfaces as major sources of a variety of bacterial and fungal contaminants both as amplification sites and transfer (vector) sites, control of the populations is critical to the morbidity and mortality of the patients.
The most basic infection control principle is that infection is driven by three variables and risks of health outcomes can be determined as one defines these variables. These variables are the dose of the organisms, the virulence of the organisms, and susceptibility of the patient. Since with immunosuppressed patients, the susceptibility is 100% and we can not adjust the virulence of the myriad of pathogenic and problem causing microorganisms in the environment we need to focus on the control of dose. This takes us to the need to understand the source sites within a building, the visible and the invisible sites and transfer routes, and the defensive tools that we can employ to reduce the dose.
The chemical nature and the antimicrobial mode of action of the AEGIS Microbe Shield Treatment active ingredient are well suited for use in areas with immunosuppressed patients or other similarly stressed people. The durability of the treatment to treated surfaces and the polymer form of the product on treated surfaces obviate the systemic contact with the patients and the mode of action of membrane intervention obviates the risk of microbial adaptations that should be avoided by stressed patients.
Bring with this the demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of this treatment and this “tool” treated onto surfaces becomes the front line for reducing the dose. Coupling this with good personal hygiene, AEGIS treated garments and drapes, basic good housekeeping, and maintenance practices you have a program that fits the needs of the most critical of areas.
Treatment of AEGIS in Ohio State University
The bone marrow transplant hospital at Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio USA is totally treated with the AEGIS Microbe Shield Treatment. This includes all surfaces and equipment including the bone marrow transplant isolation rooms and the surgical suites and recovery areas. This is a twelve-story hospital. The Sultan Ismail Specialist Hospital in Johor Malaysia is totally treated with the ÆGIS Microbe Shield Treatment including all surfaces, air handling systems, and equipment. This is a ten-story, 1,000,000 square foot facility in the tropics. Performance Fabrics Group here in the USA and in Europe and Carrington in England offer garments treated with the AEGIS Microbe Shield Treatment for use in general service and in immunosuppressed areas of health care facilities.
AEGIS Microbe Shield Treatment – Anti-Viral Activity
The ability to claim anti-viral activity of treatments requires specific testing on the target virus. Neither we nor our customers have done extensive testing in this area but some very encouraging work has been done. Additional work in this field is underway. The attachment provides a short review of our understanding of the effectiveness of the AEGIS Microbe Shield Treatment against viruses.
Cleaning and Disinfection Practices
The question of reducing cleaning practices or disinfection protocols is quite difficult because the answer revolves around lots of variables, some controllable and some uncontrollable. The AEGIS Microbe Shield treated areas provide a lasting inhospitable environment for microorganisms without setting up sublethal doses that can lead to adaptation and resistant species. The treatment also provides protection and reduction of microbial doses in the out-of-sight-out-of-mind places that do not get cleaning and disinfection attention or are not serviced routinely or at all. Armed with this capability individual areas within a health care facility, food handling or processing facility, pharmaceutical facility, or other areas where microbial control is desirable a review of all cleaning and hygiene practices can be made. In such a review the soiling rates both of “dirt” and microbial contaminants can be assessed and risks of exposure evaluated. Such a review can allow for reasonable reductions of disinfectant usage and in some cases warrant the elimination of such practices.
If you wish to apply AEGIS Microbe Shield in your environment, contact us.