Dear Customers,

As you are probably aware, there has been significant publicity over the last few days with regard to staph (MRSA) infections and an increase in the number of cases nationwide. We would like to reassure you that Lann Chemical will work closely with our customers to minimize risk.

What is MRSA?

MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) is a dangerous superbug which has been the direct cause of several deaths and severe infections across the globe. It is especially prevalent in the United States. In fact, a 17 year Virginia football player recently passed, causing students and faculty across the country to demand better cleaning standards in their schools. At first, the MRSA outbreaks were confined to hospitals and long care facilities but now they have become quite prevalent in school athletics, where the spread of infection is increased due to direct contact. The following is a short overview of the background of the infection, prevention techniques, and care strategies for infected individuals. Please use this information with your end users to develop a strategy to minimize the occurrence or impact of an MRSA outbreak.

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that is present in about 25-30 percent of the population. For most, the bacterium does not cause illness. When infections do occur, it is usually through direct contact with a break in the skin or contact with inanimate objects, clothing, bed linens or furniture, of an infected person. In the past, these infections could be treated easily with a short inexpensive course of penicillin or other well-known antibiotics. Unfortunately today, many of these staphylococci are now resistant to penicillin and other common antibiotics. These MRSA infections (methicillin is a type of penicillin) require longer, more expensive and more complicated treatment. Recurrence of the infections occurs frequently within these patients.

How MRSA is Spread

Because staphylococcus aureus bacteria live on the skin they are easily spread by direct skin contact, often on people’s hands. MRSA is also spread on bedding, towels, clothing and equipment. MRSA can survive on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours and can persist on the skin for several hours waiting to enter the bloodstream through a cut or abrasion. That is why a proper cleaning program supplemented with an effective handwashing program is essential to prevent and control the spread of MRSA.

Simple Steps to Minimize Risk of a MRSA Infection

Practice good hygiene

If you participate in activities where there is frequent skin-to-skin contact, like exercise or sports, you should shower immediately after participating in those activities.

Wash Your Hands Often and Correctly

This includes keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water regularly or using an alcohol-based hand Sanitizer.

• Wash your hands with soap and water anytime they are visibly soiled.
• Wet your hands with water (this helps the soap penetrate better for better efficacy).
• Apply enough soap and work it into a lather, making sure to clean the backs of your hands and around/under your fingernails- most people miss these two areas.
• Lather for at least 20 seconds (sing “Happy Birthday” or the “A-B-C Song”)
• Rinse thoroughly and dry with a paper towel.
• Use a paper towel to turn off the water faucet. This prevents picking up any new germs on your just-cleaned hands.

Use Bandages

Cover skin cuts and abrasions to prevent them from being infected. They should be covered by clean, dry bandages until healed.

Don’t Share Personal Items

Everyone should avoid sharing personal items that come into direct contact with bare skin, such as the towels and razors.

Use a Towel on Exercise Equipment

Barrier-like clothing or a towel should also be used between skin and shared equipment like weight-training benches.

Frequently Clean High Touch Surfaces

High touch surfaces or surfaces that you frequently contact with your hands should be kept clean and other surfaces that that might come into direct contact with people’s skin should be cleaned routinely.

Signs & Symptoms

Staph infections, including MRSA, generally start as small red bumps that resemble pimples, boils, or spider bites. These can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin and burrow deep into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves, and lungs.

Why Not Just Use Bleach? Guest Writer: Kevin Hensey

Chlorine bleach has been used as a germicide for many years. In fact, some state health departments still recommend it as a sanitizer and disinfectant. Chlorine bleach is much cheaper per gallon than hospital-grade disinfectant cleaners. With all this going for it, why doesn’t everyone use it? Here are some facts you should consider before adding bleach to your arsenal of maintenance products. You may want to consider another type of product.

• Chlorine is a strong irritant to human tissue. Violent reactions can occur when chlorine bleach is mixed with ammonia. The reaction between chlorine and bowl cleaners containing hydrochloric acid can release deadly chlorine gas. We’ve probably all heard horror stories of people found dead or unconscious after adding a little bleach to help the toilet bowl cleaner brighten a little better.

• Chlorine is a strong oxidizing agent. Chlorine bleach was exposed to samples of commercial-grade copper, cold rolled steel, and aluminum. The copper samples discolored in three hours and showed green corrosion in 24 hours. Aluminum showed signs of corrosion within 24 hours, and, on the surface of cold rolled steel, rust formed within 30 minutes. Some grades of stainless steel also can be damaged from the use of products containing chlorine. Chlorine bleach attacks the stainless steel, trapping hydrogen gas in the pores of the metal. Over time, the hydrogen can be released, resulting in weakened metal. It is especially damaging to welded joints. The American Concrete Institute cautions that chlorine bleach will slowly disintegrate concrete and portland-based mortars or grout. Finally, many floor care product manufacturers will not stand behind the performance of their floor polishes if they are maintained with chlorine bleach.

• With just a short shipping and storage time, an industrial concentration of 12 percent bleach can fall to 7 to 10 percent. Most homeowners take months to use a gallon of bleach. Since you really don’t know to what percentage the bleach has deteriorated, it can be tricky, and possibly dangerous, to guess how much to use.

• Chlorine bleach works best in a slightly acid to neutral pH range. Alkaline soils must be removed prior to using the bleach to prevent the chlorine from losing effectiveness. In other words, you have to clean the dirt before you use the bleach if you expect the chlorine (hypochlorite) to have any significant effect.

• Compared to modern disinfectant cleaners, chlorine bleach is far less effective in cleaning ability. If you are trying to clean and control germs simultaneously, consider one of the newer formula disinfectant detergents. With dilution rates as low as 1:256, proven efficacy, longer shelf life, and a less-corrosive nature, you might find the disinfectant detergents are much better bargains than chlorine bleach. Written by Kevin Hensey, who has been in the cleaning and maintenance field for over 30 years. He has educated a variety of businesses regarding cleaning safety.

Contact Lann Chemical If you have any question at 1-800-733-5266