Ebola, SARS, Avian Flu, and the current plague du jour, MRSA.
It seems as if every year there is a new threat to humanity which stirs the masses to frenzy. This year’s menace, MRSA, bucks the trend by being a bacteria – and has already hit close to home.
MRSA is a type of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to the methicillin class of antibiotics. MRSA has long been of concern to public health officials (along with other drug-resistant infectious diseases). The CDC estimated that 85 percent of MRSA infections happen in a health care setting.
Currently, the CDC’s primary concern is the apparent increase in the number of “community-based” MRSA infections.
According to the CDC, when MRSA skin infections occur, cleaning and disinfection should be performed on surfaces that are likely to contact uncovered or poorly covered infections. Cantel Medical, through its Crosstex subsidiary, is stepping in to clean things up.
Crosstex’s waterless hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants are listed by the EPA as effective against a number of bacteria and viruses, including MRSA. The products have held significant market share in healthcare markets for a number of years. The company is now introducing them into other markets, such as schools and businesses to meet the growing demand.
Jay McCann, a Board Member of the Caldwell/West Caldwell, NJ school district says, “MRSA and other infections are a big concern to students, parents, and school officials. We need to do all we can to prevent infection, and hand hygiene is the single strongest recommendation we’re hearing.”
McCann has placed Crosstex waterless hand sanitizers in high-touch/high risk areas including the sports field house, locker rooms, and cafeterias.