INFECTION PREVENTION sponsored b sponsored byy
Minimizing infection by maximizing skin and wound care
by Kara Nadeau
Photo credit: Thunderstock |
stock.adobe.com T
he COVID-19 pandemic has exac- erbated the challenges of skin and wound care as the virus has added
a signifi cant new burden to clinical staff members. Guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)1
,
other regulatory bodies and industry associ- ations on the risks of spreading SARS-CoV-2 between people elevated hand hygiene practices as a top priority.
At the same time, clinical teams still struggle with the fight against surgical site infections (SSI) and hospital acquired infections (HAI), some of which have increased during the pandemic.2
Wound
care has also remained a high priority as clinicians care for bedridden “long hauler” COVID-19 patients who run the risk for pressure injuries. Medical supply, equipment and solu-
tion manufacturers have responded with a broad array of products to address the needs of clinicians as they struggle to man- age the workload of caring for both indi- viduals with COVID and non-virus patients.
Sustainable sanitizer The COVID-19 pandemic has made every- one realize the importance of sustaining good hygiene practices, from healthcare providers to consumers. Hand sanitizer sales in the U.S. rose more than 620% in 20203
, as individuals and organizations
strived to stem the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections. As use of these products skyrock- ets, the question arises - what impact are they having on users and the environment? “As the world reopens after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that people have access to a hand sanitizer that they can trust to protect them against germs without the
use of any toxic chemicals,” said Deborah Chung, North America Marketing Manager, Healthcare – Professional Hygiene, Essity. “The Tork Alcohol Gel Hand Sanitizer is an effi cient and sustainable solution to pro- mote hand hygiene. It comes in a variety of formats, such as pump bottles and in a dis- penser/refi ll system. These can be mounted on a wall or used with a stand, providing greater access to proper hygiene.” This product is also one of the fi rst two hand sanitizers in the market to receive a Green Seal certifi cation. Green Seal, a non- profi t authority on safer and more sustain- able products, tested the product formula for carcinogens, reproductive toxins, skin irritants, phthalates, parabens and contami- nants. To receive a Green Seal certifi cation, a product must also meet uncompromising performance standards, use ingredients that do not pollute waterways and use eco-friendly pack- aging materials.
“This recognition not only
proves our ongoing com- mitment to hygiene but also to more sustainable solutions,” Chung added.
Protecting IV catheter sites The skin acts as a protec- tive barrier against for- eign organisms. Therefore, when the skin is bypassed during central venous catheter (CVC) or peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) insertion into a blood vessel, there is a risk for sys- temic infection.5 “It is clear from the research that it’s important to protect the site and preserve
PrevahexCHX 24 September 2021 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
hpnonline.com
the skin,” said Melanie Waddell, Vice President Marketing, Entrotech Life Sciences. “Oftentimes, in the past, when it came to antimicrobial site protection, clini- cians were challenged to be able to accom- plish both goals. The good news is there is emerging technology that now allows clini- cians to both protect the site with a strong, effective antimicrobial formulation that’s non-irritating to the skin. That is what we offer with our PrevahexCHX
Antimicrobial
Dressings.” PrevahexCHX
is the fi rst and only pure
chlorhexidine dressing cleared by the FDA with complete antimicrobial pro- tection throughout the transparent areas of the dressing. PrevahexCHX
contains no
acids, salts or binders, which allows it to activate on contact with the patient’s skin providing site protection on day one through day seven. PrevahexCHX
provides
rapid efficacy against multi-drug resistant organisms both under- neath and several mil- limeters beyond the perimeter of the window.
pure chlorhexidine dressing from Entrotech
Increased demand for wound care According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, chronic wounds
or wounds that are slow to heal, affect 6.5 million people in the U.S.6
As Annette
Brüls, CEO, Medela, describes, there are many factors that are increasing the demand for wound care – from an aging population with chronic conditions to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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