MRSA and other super bugs may be the single biggest challenge facing the

NHS but now a revolutionary technology – Byotrol - developed by a pioneering British company has helped create a hospital in the United States that is free of hospital acquired  MRSA, VRE and C.difficile Monroe Hospital opened in Bloomington Indiana, in October 2006, there has never been a recorded case of hospital acquired MRSA, C.difficile or the VRE Super Bug. VRE is becoming a major issue for the North American healthcare system. James Ballard puts much of this remarkable success story down to the technology provided by a British company, Byotrol, whose anti-microbial technology has helped keep super bugs at bay across the hospital. The hospital treats around 13,000 patients every year and would ordinarily be at high risk of hospital acquired infection because it undertakes around 3,000 bone and joint surgical procedures including hip replacements every year, with many of these being undertaken on older patients.

Since the

And this breakthrough British technology offers a real solution to the super bug crisis currently gripping UK hospitals according to one of the UK’s foremost experts in hospital acquired infection. 

Monroe hospital’s Director of Infection Prevention,

The Byotrol technology is currently being piloted by

Byotrol is an anti-microbial technology which is unlike anything else on the market because it continues to kill micro-organisms for days after it has been applied and even after it has dried (called residual efficacy). In comparison, a disinfectant such as bleach is only effective for a maximum of a couple of minutes after it has been applied. After that micro-organisms start to recolonise on a surface. 

The technology kills resistant and difficult to kill organisms such as MRSA and VRE yet despite its success at killing super bugs, it is extremely gentle on human skin compared to other disinfectants used in hospitals and requires no special precautions or equipment to use it. At present no other technology in the world is able to do this. 

Ballard and his team are using the technology in a number of ways. Firstly, they implemented hand hygiene stations for all visitors to the hospital who are mandated to use the Byotrol hand sanitising foam on entry to the hospital.  Staff  have also incorporated use of Byotrol products into their hand hygiene regimes and because the product is alcohol free, it does not dry or crack hands.

The company’s products are used to clean hard surfaces and wipes impregnated with Byotrol are used to clean high contact surfaces from patient call buttons to wheelchair handles. In addition, the exterior of the building is sprayed annually with the technology which is also incredibly effective at preventing growth of algae on stonework.  

According to James Ballard, the Byotrol technology combined with the processes implemented have led to a hospital that is free of hospital acquired infection. He comments, "The Byotrol technology has been central to this success and has allowed us to become a hospital that is proactively preventing infection rather than reacting to it once it has occurred.

"The fact that Byotrol continues to work for days after it has dried means hard surfaces become residually anti-microbial over time making it more difficult for micro-organisms to get a foot hold in the hospital. Another important factor is that the technology is comparable in cost terms with existing disinfectants and because it makes surfaces easier to clean as well as residually anti-microbial it means it takes less time to clean surfaces." 

Commenting, Fred Price, President and Chief Executive Officer, of Monroe Hospital in Bloomington, who has extensive experience of working in hospital environments in the United States said. "With healthcare career roots of 20 years, I have witnessed trends in seeking the anti-microbial solution to protect patients, healthcare providers and the environment. Infection rates have historically been measured by minimizing the risk with an acceptable percentage of infection-that is now truly history at Monroe Hospital. Monroe Hospital partnering with Byotrol has maintained an environment of zero infections since we opened our doors 24 months ago.  I cannot understand why every healthcare entity that comes in contact with patients doesn’t use Byotrol? Our patients depend upon us to be "bug" free." Curtis Gemmell, Professor of Bacterial Infection and Epidemiology at the University of Glasgow and one of the UK’s foremost experts on hospital acquired infection comments, "This demonstrates that there is a real, proven and practical solution to address this crisis gripping UK hospitals. It needs to be stressed that hospitals looking to manage down MRSA and other hospital acquired infections need a combination of robust procedures backed by a management team that have a good understanding of infection prevention and this all needs to be underpinned by a powerful technology. 

"The fact that the Monroe Hospital has never had a case of hospital acquired infection since it opened its doors in 2006 shows the value of the Byotrol technology when combined with the other components of the infection prevention bundle," Curtis Gemmell adds. 

Stephen Falder, Deputy Chairman of Byotrol and the inventor of the technology says, "We are really delighted with this achievement.  Whilst our technology is truly revolutionary we have always said that is not a substitute for good hygienic practice, but when coupled with a well managed environment it will make a spectacular difference. We now have a clear example of what can be achieved using Byotrol in a demanding healthcare situation that is thoughtfully looked after. Having two infection free years in a real life hospital shows what can be achieved and will give real hope to those involved in managing down infections in NHS hospitals. This can significantly turn the tide without having to spend extortionately or behave extraordinarily," Stephen Falder adds.