ASP unveils innovative healthcare environmental infection prevention technology

Sterilization Products (ASP) announced today the launch of an innovative infection prevention technology – GLOSAIR™ Healthcare Environmental Decontamination – that provides effective, safe and thorough disinfection of hospital rooms and operating suites to reduce the risk of patient contact with infection-causing pathogens. There is a growing scientific consensus that the patient environment is a key source in the transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), as routine cleaning of healthcare facilities does not always eliminate pathogens. Use of GLOSAIR™ to augment manual cleaning processes has been shown to be more effective in the reduction of HAI pathogens as compared to cleaning alone.

"Despite healthcare facilities' efforts to properly clean and disinfect patient and procedure rooms as well as operating suites, studies show deadly infections borne by pathogens can continue to live on surfaces, such as bed rails, television remotes and IV pumps, and over time infect other patients," said Dr. William Jarvis, a global expert on HAI control and prevention. "The good news is that infections related to the healthcare environment are almost always preventable and hospitals now have new infection prevention tools to safely and effectively disinfect the patient environment, which can help keep patients safe."

GLOSAIR™ Healthcare Environmental Decontamination is the newest technology available to help healthcare facilities improve patient safety, and is the focus of an educational symposium today at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) 2011 Conference. The symposium, Progress Toward Improved Healthcare Environmental Decontamination, will educate healthcare professionals on environmental decontamination and GLOSAIR™ technology, which disinfects by creating a fog of 5 percent hydrogen peroxide that is uniformly dispersed to disinfect all hard nonporous surfaces, including difficult-to-reach areas. Attendees at APIC are encouraged to join the APIC Symposium in Ballroom Key 8, 11, 12 of the Baltimore Hilton Hotel at 6:00AM ET or visit the ASP APIC booth #856.

Research Shows Environment Can Contribute to Spread of Infection

According to the latest scientific research, environmental contamination plays an important role in the transmission of many superbugs that cause infections. Research indicates some microorganisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas) and E. coli, are tougher to eliminate than others and can continue to persist on environmental surfaces after standard cleaning approaches.

Healthcare facilities can reduce the number of these pathogens in the hospital environment by introducing enhanced, deep cleaning and disinfection protocols to current practices. Studies show hydrogen peroxide vapor decontamination devices, such as GLOSAIR™ Systems, are effective at reducing surface contamination by these pathogens and may be associated with a reduction in infection transmission.

"With HAIs increasing at a significant rate, hospitals need an innovative solution to help reduce the patient and financial impact associated with these life-threatening infections," said Bernard Zovighian, Worldwide President of ASP. "ASP specifically developed GLOSAIR™ for the healthcare environment to deliver thorough environmental disinfection in a way that is safe for patients, healthcare staff and the medical equipment they both depend upon while enabling hospitals to differentiate themselves by offering an optimal patient experience. With GLOSAIR™ now available in the U.S., when you or a loved one needs medical care, you can feel more comfortable knowing that a facility that uses GLOSAIR™ is providing a higher level of infection protection."

Broad Portfolio of Healthcare Environmental Decontamination Options

For healthcare facilities interested in improving their cleaning procedures, GLOSAIR™ Healthcare Environmental Decontamination Systems provide customized, easily accessible and affordable solutions to address facility needs including:

• The GLOSAIR™ 400 System offers the right balance of safety and efficacy in a convenient size as a complement to your current cleaning processes.
• The GLOSAIR™ 600 System provides facilities with an integrated solution to augment everyday manual cleaning.
• To help healthcare facilities integrate their GLOSAIR™ Healthcare Environmental Decontamination System, ASP's Assisted Delivery service will work with staff to develop the techniques, processes, and schedules to get the most productivity from your GLOSAIR™ Systems.