Ecolab Gets EPA Backing against C. Difficile

Posted July 27, 2018 at 12:33 pm



Controlling the No. 1 U.S. healthcare-associated infectious microorganism, C. difficile1, is an important public health issue for both the healthcare and commercial laundry industries. Despite the prevalence of this organism, prevention and containment pose numerous challenges as the spores can survive for weeks on a large variety of surfaces, including soft surfaces.

To combat the rise of C. difficile infections at hospital facilities, Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, MN, recently developed an antimicrobial laundry additive against spores of C. difficile. The company received federal EPA approval of this laundry disinfection claim on AdvaCare™ Disinfectant (EPA Registration No. 1677-193). The current EPA-approved master label for AdvaCare Disinfectant now contains use directions to kill C. difficile spores on contaminated laundry and in the wash liquor when added to the laundering process. This claim is currently being reviewed by state agencies, including the California Department of Pesticide Registration (CDPR).

“A monumental day for our industry,” said Angela Becker of Ecolab Research, Development & Engineering North America. “Our team has spent years developing this technology, collaborating with industry experts and fine tuning the disinfection wash process to help commercial laundries align priorities with their healthcare customers on keeping patients safe. We are excited to be the first to market with an EPA-registered solution to kill C. difficile in the laundry process.”

Please call 800.553.8683 for additional details.

  1. C. difficile was estimated to cause almost half a million infections in the United States in 2011, and 29,000 died within 30 days of the initial diagnosis www.cdc.gov.
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