Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 11th April 2024 Issue no. 1109
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Scottish botulism poisoning highlights limitations of anti-bacterial sanitisers
News of an outbreak of Botulism poisoning in Scotland this week has heightened awareness and concerns over food hygiene and infection control. The cases are believed to have been caused by a contaminated batch of Lloyd Grossman's curry sauce. With two people hospitalised after consuming the sauce, there are fears that the outbreak could spread if proper infection control procedures are not followed.
Botulism is a notifiable disease - patients suspected of infection should be treated in a side room with strict infection control procedures. A botulism anti-toxin is available, and should be administered as treatment.
People coming into contact with botulism, who include not only front line medical staff but others such as cleaners, ambulance crew and porters, all need proper protection. A vomit and urine spill kit with the correct PPE including face mask is sufficient to prevent infection. What many people are not aware of is that standard anti-bacterials, including alcohol gel and basic sanitisers, may not be up to the job.
It is also vital to ensure correct procedures for environmental cleaning are followed, both during and after an outbreak. For this a powerful, state-of-the-art detergent-sanitisier is necessary. SoChlor, supplied by GV Health, is a good choice here; used at 5,000ppm with a five minute contact time SoChlor kills the spores which cause Botulism to spread.
Botulism is caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can survive in improperly canned or preserved food as well as enter the body via wounds. The bacterium produces spores that turn into toxin, and even small amounts can lead to severe poisoning.
Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, breathing difficulties, double vision, dry mouth and weakness in both sides of the body; however, there is no fever. Botulism can also occur naturally in infant stools; annually, more cases of the disease are reported in infants than in adults.
SoChlor is the latest addition to GV Health's infection control products. Effective against fungal, bacterial & sporicidal activity, the SoChlor range includes SoChlor DST, SoChlor Tabs and SoChlor Granules. Based on Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), soluble SoChlor tablets and granules deliver high strength decontamination solutions for advanced hygiene control. All products in the range are certified to the appropriate EN:BS standards and have been successfully trialled in the NHS.
GV Health's spill cleaning packs and kits for biohazards, noroviruses, chemicals and cytotoxins are used throughout the NHS under a comprehensive framework agreement. Designed to keep healthcare staff fully protected against dangerous spillages while providing 100% effective clean-up, they now include SoChlor.
T: +44 (0) 1920 463098
F: +44 (0)1920 484664
E: [email protected]
W: www.gvhealth.com
17th November 2011