Oct 1, 2018   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Ecolab Obtains First-to-Market EPA-Registered Laundry Disinfectant Claim against Clostridium difficile

Controlling Clostridium difficile1, or C. diff, one of the leading causes of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), is an important operational challenge for both the healthcare and commercial laundry industries. Based on 2011 data, C. diff was estimated to cause half a million infections in the U.S. and 29,000 deaths, a mortality rate of more than three deaths every hour.

Despite the prevalence of this organism, prevention and containment pose numerous challenges because the spores can survive for weeks on a variety of surfaces, including soft surfaces such as bed linens.

To help hospitals combat the rise of C. diff infections, Ecolab Inc. has developed AdvaCare™ Disinfectant, the first laundry disinfectant with claims against C. diff. The additive kills spores of C. diff and has received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for this laundry disinfection claim.

“Preventing HAIs is essential for patient safety and the overall success of a healthcare facility,” said Chris Smith, vice president and general manager, Textile Care for North and South America. “With an increasing number of pathogen sources being recognized in healthcare settings, every mode of transmission must be addressed to protect patients. AdvaCare Disinfectant works to minimize the risk of transmitting HAIs by killing microorganisms of concern2 on the linen and preventing cross-contamination in the wash water.”

AdvaCare Disinfectant is an EPA-registered laundry disinfectant – registration number 1677-193 – and it is registered in all 50 states. The concentrate formulation is approved for use in commercial, institutional, healthcare and industrial laundry operations. The current EPA-approved master label for AdvaCare Disinfectant contains use directions to kill C. diff spores on contaminated laundry and in the wash water when added to the laundering process. This claim is currently being reviewed by state-level agencies, including the California Department of Pesticide Registration (CDPR).

In addition to protecting against harmful organisms, AdvaCare Disinfectant is an effective and sustainable oxidizer solution, producing whiter whites and extending linen life compared to alternative oxidizers.

AdvaCare Disinfectant is one of many innovative technologies Ecolab provides to hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the world. The company’s solutions and services can be found in hospital laundries, kitchens, patient and surgical rooms, and other areas to help ensure cleanliness and staff and patient safety.

For more information on AdvaCare Disinfectant, contact your Ecolab representative or email laundry@ecolab.com.

About Ecolab
A trusted partner at nearly three million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With annual sales of $14 billion and 48,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions, data-driven insights and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.

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1 https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2015/p0225-clostridium-difficile.html

2 Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, HIV-1 (AIDS Virus), Enterococcus faecalis-VRE, Carbapenem Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC), Clostridium difficile.