Cleaning and hygiene product manufacturers are always looking for new ways to protect against infections. The aim is to break the chain of infection by removing any pathogens that could cause illnesses from surfaces and objects. The choice of products has never been bigger but something that has always proved elusive is a way to offer ongoing protection. That is now changing with a new type of product that can retain its disinfection performance on surfaces for many hours.
Many infections are spread by direct personal contact or by touching a surface that has been contaminated by an infected person. Contamination can also arise when an infected person coughs or sneezes and the tiny droplets produced fall onto a surface. A pathogen can enter our bodies when we touch our eyes, nose, or mouth with contaminated hands. This is why regular hand washing and surface disinfection are so important.
Most surface disinfection products currently on the market work the same way: they eliminate pathogens by killing or physically removing them. The most widely used products are liquid disinfectants containing active ingredients such as chlorine, quats, or hydrogen peroxide. Another way to eliminate pathogens is to utilise the disinfecting properties of high temperatures and steam. More recent innovations incorporate ozone gas or UV-light to kill pathogens.
All of these are effective and the wide choice offers facilities flexibility to choose the best one for almost any potential application and setting. But a drawback with all of them is that they only remove what is already there. There is no long-term protection because whatever product or technology is used it cannot protect against what comes afterwards. The surface can be re-contaminated at any time ? even immediately - and there is no long-term protection. Frequent surface disinfection is therefore recommended in many settings because it removes pathogens more often and reduces the time that they could cause an infection.
Manufacturers have been seeking novel solutions to provide long-term protection on surfaces. Such a product would continue to protect after it has been applied. In addition to the ongoing protection the main benefit would be that, in certain settings, the frequency of surface disinfection could be reduced.
The idea of surfaces offering long-term protection is not new. In fact, humans have known for centuries that certain metals including gold, silver, and copper can help protect against disease. Our ancestors used these metals for storing and cooking items after they realised that food stayed edible or drink drinkable for longer.
Despite this, it was not until the late 19th century that scientists began to understand why it happens. In simple terms, the metals or their ions disrupt the cells in microorganisms so that they die or cannot replicate. This characteristic of metals such as copper and silver, or their alloys, led to their use in items such as door handles and light switches. But using these metals can be expensive and, in any case, it is not always practical for everyday objects.
More recently scientists have developed liquid formulations without metals. These incorporate proven disinfectants and additional ingredients that form polymers. When applied, the product initially disinfects like a conventional formulation. But as it dries, the polymer creates a thin layer on the surface that holds the disinfectant in place. This means it can kill any pathogens that are subsequently deposited on the surface by touch or falling droplets. This is how these products offer long-term or ?after use? protection.
Products that work this way, including Diversey's new Degregerm 24 Shield, offer a completely new form of long-term protection against infections. The thin polymer layer they produce is dry, pH-neutral, and solvent-free. It is almost invisible and works on most hard surfaces. These products are ideal for frequent touch surfaces such as door handles, light switches, lift controls, and self-service equipment. In settings where there are relatively few people that are likely to touch a surface, the protection can last for up to 24 hours.
Products that pass the BSI PAS 2424 Residual Antimicrobial Efficacy Test have been shown to offer protection for up to 24 hours. Degregerm 24 Shield passes this and the even more stringent EPA RSS test, in both cases in dirty conditions. This means it can be used as a cleaner-disinfectant and there is no need ? unlike alternative technologies - to clean the surface before it is applied.
In theory, cleaning teams might only need to use these products once a day. However, Government agencies such as Public Health England recommend that frequent touch points are disinfected at least twice a day to maintain protection.
In real-world applications, the polymer releases the active disinfectant when it is touched. The BSI PAS 2424 and EPA RSS tests show that Degregerm 24 Shield continues to work after repeated touches but the polymer layer does eventually wear away and must be replaced. The product is also less effective if the surface becomes dirty. For these reasons it is likely that the best ongoing protection is achieved when the product is reapplied at suitable intervals. While each situation will vary, early users have reported being able to reduce cleaning frequency with conventional products from every two hours to twice a day using Degregerm 24 Shield. The improvements in productivity and savings in time and costs are considerable.
The development of novel disinfectants offering up-to-24-hour protection provides cleaning and infection prevention teams with another option in their ongoing battle to protect. Choosing the right product or combination to achieve the most effective outcomes is not always easy. Diversey uses its unrivalled healthcare experience alongside infection prevention and housekeeping teams to devise and implement highly effective, productive, and sustainable solutions.
