Understanding Infection Prevention Products and Solutions

Every year Australia uses billions of Infection Prevention Products (IPP), including wipes, sprays, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), and capital equipment. 

Despite the massive volume of products utilised in the prevention of infection, many are asking how quality and efficacy is measured and if products entering the market are of a reliable and efficacious standard. 

Items such as wipes and sprays are often measured by the percentage of microbes killed and how much time it takes to kill these organisms. 

Infection Prevention Network members are known for producing high-quality products which reduce pathogens and harmful microorganisms. 

These products are highly effective against multi-resistant organisms, commonly referred to as superbugs, as well as viruses of concern, including SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. 

The most advanced wipes have even been proven effective in killing COVID-19 in just a 30 second contact time. 

It is critical to note that not all disinfectants are equal. Some products require a ‘contact time’ of up to 10 minutes to be effective. 

This means the surface must stay damp and in contact with bacteria for a full 10 minutes to be effective. 

Ten minutes can be hard to achieve due to evaporation or time limitations, as staff may wipe it dry before 10 minutes is complete. 

Areas within Australia’s warmer climate zones, including many rural and regional areas, can be particularly susceptible to this as they are typically areas of faster evaporation. 

For capital equipment such as isolation suites and air purification systems, time is less of a factor as these products are usually in ‘always-on’ mode. However, consumers should be aware of the efficacy and safety of these systems, for example look for products with Medical grade HEPA filters H13 or H14. The higher the number, the greater the percentage of particles trapped within the filter, meaning decreased risk to patients and staff. 

What does this mean? 

There is a growing push across the health sector to procure based on value over price. Modern, advanced infection prevention products are emblematic of this value proposition. 

Effective, evidence based infection prevention products are capable of killing high percentages of microbes in a fast and realistic time. 

For our health systems, a traditional procurement officer may see higher costs and struggle to justify the expense. 

However, under a value-based procurement model, these procurement professionals are able to analyse the broader impact of superior products. 

A 2019 study into the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections among adult inpatients at nineteen large Australian acute-care public hospitals found the rate of healthcare-associated infection in regional hospitals was 12.12% - well above the 9.49% in major city hospitals[1]. 

Reducing the percentage of healthcare-associated infection by a single percentage would have a budgetary impact far more significant than any associated infection prevention expenditure. 

References

1Russo et al. ‘Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control’ pp5 https://wilhelm.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/HAI-hospital-acquired-infection-study-Australia.-July-2019-1.pdf