Tag: Infection control

Treat the Environment, Not the Plant

Posted on by Hasselfeld_Robert

Healthy, sustainable food production methods give us food that is nutritionally better and with fewer pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones.”

Marion Nestle

Agricultural growers, whether flowers, fruits, vegetables, or cannabis lean on the quality of their yield. In the past few decades, using pesticides and fungicides to protect harvest numbers were the methods of choice. But it’s 2023, and we have better technology, strategies, and science to protect our crops without contaminating the product that the shopper consumes. The way we look at it at Safety Net is you have two options: to be reactive or to be proactive.

Prioritizing the environment where plants are grown can ensure a healthy and sustainable crop, while also reducing the risk of contamination for consumers. Focusing on preventing germs, bacteria, molds, and fungus from spreading in the first place, growers can establish a proactive approach that can help prevent cross-contamination and avoid larger problems down the road.

Safety Net’s enhanced Bio-Security Program embodies the proactive mindset by tackling pathogens at the source through various technologies and methodologies that can cross pollinate from the rigorously regulated hospital industry into the realm of agriculture.

Beyond Cleaning & Disinfecting

Cleaning, disinfection, and protection practices within a growing facility are critical for numerous reasons and having a protocol in place for proper remediation goes a long way. But these basic practices are not enough for an environment that needs to grow healthy plants and produce. Mold, mildew, and fungus are common threats, along with harmful bacteria and pathogens, and these threats come in from all angles.

At Safety Net, we recommend what we call the 5 Pillar Approach to Enhanced Bio-Security, which goes well beyond the traditional cleaning and disinfecting methods. Our roots are in the hospital and healthcare sector and the 5 standards of infection control are a great basis for any organization looking to clean up their act. But, our approach to agricultural bio-security ensures a level of decontamination that negates the need for spraying plants directly with fungicides, pesticides, and other products that have potential health effects on consumers.

The 5 Pillars

  1. Personnel Compliance – just as germs and viruses travel from person to person, anyone who enters your facility is an opportunity for cross-contamination in a cannabis facility or growing environment. The staff themselves can unwittingly carry contaminants into the facility on the clothes they wear and even on the electronic devices they use.
  2. Surface Disinfection – keeping surfaces clean is critically important, but using harsh chemicals may not be the healthiest approach. SafetyNet’s AquaOx™️ 112 cleaner, AquaOx™️ 525 disinfectant not only cleans and disinfects surfaces but our Biotrexx 247™️ antimicrobial protectant also attracts and destroys pathogens on contact.
  3. Air Purification – the pandemic has made it abundantly clear how vital air purification is in all indoor facilities. Airborne particulates and contaminants can recirculate through the HVAC and air handling systems. Using our Biotrexx™️ 247 to coat filters helps to capture and destroy germs and viruses rather than just capture. Our Element Air™ technology that utilizes high-intensity UV light targeted on a catalyst to create airborne gaseous hydrogen peroxide provides active microbial and odor mitigation. For larger facilities, our BP-3131 kills pathogens moving through the HVAC System at 2000 CFM in a split second and provides a 99.9995 pathogen reduction.
  4. Water Purification – just as we do not want to drink contaminants in our water, neither do plants. SafetyNet ‘s full line of water purification products provides a complete cleaning and disinfection process and is a systematic method for environmental cleaning and disinfecting that aims at reducing harm to human health and the environment while improving the hygiene of a facilities environment.
  5. Tools For the Task – no job is done efficiently without the proper equipment and the most important part is how products are applied so they can be the most effective in reducing pathogens. Our line of ESS electrostatic sprayers provides the best electrostatic charge and consistent droplet size for superior coverage and highest pathogen reduction.

Consumer Awareness

Modern day consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the potential health risks associated with consuming food products that have been exposed to harmful pathogens. According to a report by the World Health Organization, foodborne diseases are a major public health problem worldwide, causing an estimated 600 million cases of illness and 420,000 deaths each year. The report also highlights the fact that unsafe food can lead to a wide range of health problems, including diarrheal diseases, viral infections, and even cancer. Given the severity of these health risks, it is essential for growers and farmers to prioritize infection prevention in their environment.

By prioritizing infection prevention in the environment, growers and farmers can help to reassure consumers that their products are safe and healthy.

Science Says, “Be Proactive.”

Research has also shown that taking a proactive approach to pathogen prevention can have significant benefits for crop yield and quality. For example, a study found on Springer found that implementing a proactive infection prevention program led to a 50% reduction in disease incidence in greenhouse-grown tomatoes. The study also found that the program resulted in a 29% increase in yield compared to the control group. These findings suggest that prioritizing infection prevention in the environment can not only protect consumer health but also benefit growers and farmers by improving crop yield and quality.

In addition to the health and economic benefits, prioritizing infection prevention in the environment can also have positive environmental impacts. The use of pesticides and fungicides can have detrimental effects on soil quality, water quality, and overall ecosystem health. By adopting a proactive approach to infection prevention, growers and farmers can reduce their reliance on these harmful chemicals, promoting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural system.

Let’s be proactive, not reactive, or as we like to say, “Protect Your Environment and Your Environment Will Protect You”.

About the Author

Robert Hasselfeld is an entrepreneur, consultant, and freelance writer for Safety Net.

How Universities Can Tackle Infection Control in Athletic Training Rooms

Posted on by Hasselfeld_Robert

Written by: Alice Palmer

When you think about athletic activities, the top risks that come to mind are musculoskeletal injuries. Although, athletes, students, and staff are also at high risk of acquiring infections in training rooms. These enclosed spaces are conducive to viral and bacterial growth because athletes are in close contact with each other — often in conditions that are far from ideal.

A study tested two high school and two collegiate athletic training rooms and found that there were significant amounts of bacterial load inside. There were also high rates of multidrug-resistant organisms like the methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE). In fact, 24% of all the surfaces swabbed during the study contained these organisms; and 25% of surfaces carried the influenza virus. These infectious organisms are health hazards, MRSA infections are infamous for requiring hospitalization and intravenous antibiotic treatments. What’s more, student-athletes may become spreaders of these viruses throughout the school. However, the same study also curbed the viral load in athletic training rooms down to 0% through awareness drives and disinfection methods. Take a cue from those researchers and tackle infection control in your athletic training rooms through the following measures:

Have a proactive infection control awareness drive

Infectious disease specialist at the Wayne State University’s medical program, Teena Chopra, says that the biggest impact on infection control will come from prevention. The student-athletes must first understand the risks of infection, after which they’re motivated to adopt behavioral changes.

Chopra says hand hygiene is the cornerstone of infection mitigation. Moreover, as we discussed in a previous post, there should be an increase in awareness about cross-contamination — from viruses on devices such as phones.

Student-athletes must also be careful not to touch the T-zone with dirty hands; this is where dirty hands can make contact with the eyes, nose, and mouth. Chopra urges those who are in charge of spaces like universities, athletic facilities, and training rooms to implement programs for antimicrobial stewardship.

Get help from an infection control nurse

Infections are medical health threats, that much is clear. Bringing in professionals like nurses would not only help control the infection, but would also greatly promote student-athletes’ overall health. As the pandemic revealed nurses’ important role in infection control, it also exacerbated the nursing shortage. This pushed the healthcare community to adapt quickly to continue producing more nurses.

One of the key strategies is online learning. Today, nurses can take online RN to BSN programs to advance their practice and become certified in infection control. As these programs are taught purely online, it’s an ideal arrangement for practicing nurses. Online BSN curriculums are also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ensuring that they’re on par with traditional degrees. Infection control nurses are taught the best practices for halting the spread of viruses and bacteria— this on top of delivering care to people who’ve contracted diseases. These specialized nurses can even work with you to create awareness drives and establish the proper protocols.

Hire professionals for thorough disinfection

While regular cleaning is encouraged, it may not be enough for athletic training rooms. It’s best to commission professionals to ensure that the job is done well in these demanding spaces. Plus, your facility may have specific concerns that you may not be aware of.

Enlist the help of professional disinfecting teams from Safety Net to get the best combination of infection control solutions and disinfection services. We offer custom disinfection services tailor-fit to your needs, making infection control more cost-effective. We have an impressive range of EPA-approved and registered devices that can aid in disinfection and long-term protection. Getting your athletic training rooms disinfected by Safety Net is a great springboard towards eliminating infectious viruses altogether. You can also strengthen your infection control efforts with our offerings of the newest technologies, including air purification systems, UV Boxes, and mPulse hand sanitizers.

Infection control in athletic training rooms isn’t a one-time deal, it needs consistent effort and continuous awareness.

About the Author

Alice Palmer is a guest writer for The Safety Blog.

Go Safely Back to School

Posted on by 4M-Mark

School districts could never have imagined a year ago that a virus could and would become a deadly risk for students and staff. The coronavirus came with little warning and quickly overwhelmed our health care system. As infection rates soared, schools and businesses shut down, and people hunkered down at home. Supplies of personal protective equipment and disinfectants became scarce and demand for school disinfection skyrocketed.

Developing and implementing plans to reduce the risk of contracting – and spreading – the coronavirus became and continues to be a top priority. But the spread of misinformation about disinfection products has made it confusing, if not risky, to choose the most effective products. Many companies have taken advantage of consumers and organizations by peddling information and disinfection products that are ineffective and potentially harmful if not used correctly.   

So what’s the solution to providing a safe environment for students and staff? It starts with consulting with a reputable company that can help you develop the most effective school disinfection plan. Reducing the risk of contracting and spreading a virus within schools and district facilities also takes a comprehensive approach: disinfection that tackles hard surfaces, air purification, hand hygiene and small devices.  

Hard Surface Disinfection

Let’s start with some basics. When it comes to hard surface disinfection, you need to understand the difference between sanitizing and disinfecting.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates disinfectants and approves information included on product labels. According to the EPA, disinfectants destroy or inactivate 99.99% of bacteria and viruses listed on the product’s label. A sanitizer reduces 99.9% of bacteria, but not viruses, listed on the product label. Sanitizers can leave microscopic amounts of bacteria that can cause illness. Surface disinfectants must pass more rigorous EPA testing requirements and clear a higher bar than surface sanitizing products.

The bottom line? When you want to kill viruses and bacteria on hard surfaces, disinfect – not sanitize.

Read Labels and Follow Directions

Your efforts go to waste if you don’t use the right product correctly. Product labels provide the details you need, such as the bacteria and viruses it will kill. (Different products aim at different viruses and bacteria.) It also tells you how long the disinfectant must remain on the surface before you wipe it off, known as wet or contact time. When a product sits on the surface, it’s hard at work doing what it’s supposed to.

According to infection control experts, a product that has to stay wet for more than two minutes is ineffective. Maintaining more than two minutes of wet time isn’t achievable.

Apply Full Coverage

When applying a disinfectant, it’s essential to cover all high touchpoints completely. An air-assisted electrostatic sprayer gives you the best results. It delivers the disinfectant in a tiny mist and has an electrostatic charge that attracts the disinfectant to cover the surface and in nooks and crannies. The disinfectant can dry on its own with no wiping needed.

Studies have shown using a “spray and wipe” process is less than 50% effective in disinfecting hard surfaces, and typically unsafe for electronics. Electrostatic sprayers with the right disinfectant save time and money while significantly reducing the risk of infection.

Air Purification

With classrooms, locker rooms, gyms and hallways in schools, air purification is another essential piece of a comprehensive school disinfection program. Disinfecting options include equipment attached or retrofitted to the existing HVAC system, and moveable mobile units. Both systems are important and effective.

Mobile units use HEPA filtration, ultraviolet light and charcoal filters that cycle the air in a room 10 to 15 times an hour. The process reduces airborne viruses and bacteria up to 99.99%. Air purification reduces the risk of breathing in a virus or touching a surface where it’s landed and transferring it by hand to mouth, nose or eyes.

Hand Hygiene and Small Device Disinfection

Pairing hand hygiene and small device disinfection is a must to deliver a 1-2 punch to viruses and bacteria. Thorough hand washing means nothing if we’re touching devices like phones, tablets, laptop computers, badges and keys covered with germs.

A study by the University of Arizona found that cell phones carry 7-10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. According to Business Insider, an average person touches their phone 2600 times per day. That means all those touches on a phone alone transfers viruses and bacteria to hands (even clean ones), which spreads them to everything else touched.

Having students and staff follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for handwashing is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs. Hand sanitizers can reduce germs when soap and water aren’t available. Although the CDC recommends using hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol, some of the alcohol-based options can be toxic over time. One product on the market is alcohol-free and lasts up to eight hours on hands.

When it comes to effectively disinfecting small devices, ultraviolet (UV) light shines – in specific situations. UV light must directly contact on an object within three to five feet, over a precise amount of time, and at the correct dose to be effective. Distance from the light, shadows, or dust prevent UV light from reaching a device and sanitizing. Small, controlled chambers, such as a UV lightbox, which looks like a microwave, make it easy to disinfect many types of small devices, such as classroom tablets, cell phones, pens, pencils and markers. UV is becoming a staple in small device disinfection, it should be implemented in any school disinfection plan.

Unfortunately, many companies promote UV light as a top-tier, all-around disinfectant. It’s not. UV lights, unlike disinfectants, aren’t regulated, leaving some UV light manufacturers to make false and irresponsible claims that aren’t backed by scientific proof.

For example, UV light manufacturers’ studies show that UV light robots marketed to disinfect rooms and large spaces only sanitize, leaving germs that can infect and cause illness. The technology doesn’t achieve the distance, time, and dose required to disinfect the way UV light does in a small, controlled space like a UV lightbox.

There is Much to Learn

There is so much to learn about preventing infections in every environment. That’s why it’s important to work with a reputable company and people who can sort out the correct information and products to help you put together a cost-effective, comprehensive plan that’s right for your school district.  

Watch for future articles to learn more about school disinfection solutions to keep your school district healthy.

About the Author

Ron Romano is president of Safety Net, a West Chester, Ohio, company helping keep people healthy and safe. Ron and his team partner with schools, businesses, hospitals and local governments from around the world, providing disinfection products and expertise. Learn more at safetynetamerica.com.