by: Sanford P. Benjamin, M.D., Medical Director
Community-acquired infections (CAI) are a persistent health care challenge and the trend continues upward in children and adults. The major contributing factor for CAI is contamination of “high touch” surfaces by antibiotic resistant microorganisms in the home. Whereas antibiotics were the “wonder drugs of the20th century, antibiotic resistant microbes are now enemy number one. In 2012 and 2014, two separate studies published in the American Journal of Infection Control revealed that in more than 50 percent of the time utilizing customary disinfectants, including bleach, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, copper solution and non-bonded organosilane, hospital surfaces were not adequately cleaned and were re-contaminated within minutes to a few hours. Those are effective microorganism killers but lack staying power. They are not durable. The good news is that a single application of PROTECHS antimicrobial agent has been proven to protect hard and soft surfaces against microorganisms for 3+ months on hard surfaces and 12-18 months on soft surfaces, despite regular cleaning and continuous use. Community-acquired infections are primarily caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria with lesser numbers of virus, fungus, mold and algae. Since there is no predictably effective short-term treatment for antibiotic resistant organisms.
Logical strategy is to protect high-touch, home surfaces from microorganism contamination. PROTECHS antimicrobial features: (1) Silicon oxide protective barrier shield anchored to the home surface by super-strong covalent chemical bonds responsible for long duration effectiveness; (2) When applied to a surface, PROTECHS is non-leaching. It does not migrate, diffuse, dilute, or dissolve away from the application site, thus maintaining the maximum effective kill power concentration; (3) PROTECHS kills all bacteria, including all virus, all fungus, all mold and all algae. (4) PROTECHS kill effectiveness approximates 99 per cent plus reduction in pre-application surface bacterial counts over 3+ months, working day and night, 24/7; (5) PROTECHS kill mechanism is physical, not chemical like other surface disinfectants, utilizing ELECTROCUTION of microorganisms at the molecular level with instantaneous microbe death. No microorganism can survive electrocution. (6) PROTECHS does not provide an environment for adaptive (mutant) “superbug” formation, since the kill mechanism is instantaneous; (7) When sprayed on a surface, PROTECHS is colorless, odorless and does not change the surface appearance when applied; (8) PROTECHS may be applied to all surfaces. So how is PROTECHS relevant to the home and family market? The domestic acquired infections of serious consequence are primarily due to antibiotic resistant bacteria. MRSA is by far the most frequent dangerous offender, challenging to treat, yet not difficult to prevent with PROTECHS spray application to “high touch” surfaces in the home. Less frequently-occurring home surface bacterial pollutants include Streptococcus, a causative agent of Strep throat, middle ear infection, pneumonia, and meningitis and Mycoplasma bacteria, a causative agent of pneumonia in school age children and young adults. Viruses contaminating domestic surfaces include Influenza A and B “flu”, the common cold Rhinovirus, hepatitis virus, and Herpes virus, all challenging to treat, yet not difficult to prevent with PROTECHS spray surface application. Fungal surface contamination by athlete’s foot (Tinea pedis) is easily prevented by applying PROTECHS to wet shower floors.
The surface areas in the home most vulnerable to contamination by disease-causing microorganisms include the kitchen, bathrooms, and family room/ children’s play room as well as door knobs. The kitchen is the number one most polluted area in the house. Kitchen areas of most concern include the high touch food preparation counters, water faucet handles, sink, refrigerator door handles, kitchen table and kitchen chairs. Bathroom high touch surface contamination sites include water faucet handles, toilet flush handles, toilet seats and shower
floor~ The family room and/or children’s play room are high risk targets for contamination of television remote controls, video game controls, computer keyboards, computer mouse and high touch toy surfaces.
PROTECHS SAFETY PROFILE
PROTECHS is registered by the strict standards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as safe, non-toxic, non-polluting, non-irritating, biodegradable, non-flammable, water- based and non-allergenic. PROTECHS is approved by the Food and Drug Administration {FDA} as ‘food grade clean”. If and when PROTECHS comes into contact with the skin, it has been found to be non-absorbed, nontoxic, non- irritating and non-allergenic. Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that it is prudent to apply water and soap to any skin contact site with any commercial chemical disinfectant solution and to contact a physician if any untoward effects persist.
OBSERVATIONS
Hundreds of thousands of community-acquired infections occur outside of health care facilities on a yearly basis. The majority are caused by MRSA. Whereas the total number of hospital-acquired infections is slowly decreasing, community acquired infections are on the rise, especially in children. There are no predictably optimal antibiotics to treat MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. If multiple antibiotic treatment is a “no win” issue for antibiotic-resistant organisms, the credible strategy for remedy is to PREVENT community-acquired infections by protecting “high touch” surfaces with PROTECHS, a durable, effective and safe antimicrobial agent which does not provide an environment for mutant adaptive antibiotic -resistant “superbugs”.
