A new report detailing the emergence of new “super virulent” strains of Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff) has re-emphasised the importance of effective infection prevention – particularly hand washing – in the fight against Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs).
The report – from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and published in Genome Biology – reveals that deep cleaning was ‘never going to work against this organism in the long term’; with the Health Protection Agency insisting upon “vigilant infection control procedures in order to reduce rates of infection”.
While alcohol-based hygiene products offer some benefits against some microbial agents, they are not effective against C. Diff, a highly problematic and lethal infection, especially in the over 65 group – for which thorough hand-washing remains the most viable cross-contamination solution.
A new weapon in the fight against HCAIs – particularly the likes of C. Diff – is the Acu from Rada, the worldwide experts in commercial showering, washroom controls, fittings and systems. It represents a new generation of digital thermostatic mixing valves, specifically designed to bring effective non-touch controlled hand-washing facilities to the total range of healthcare applications.
Providing non-touch operation greatly reduces the possibility of cross-infection between washbasin users; while the smooth finished user interface is far more resistant to rigorous cleaning than chrome alternatives.
Offering an enhanced aesthetic – which assists in de-institutionalising the hospital environment – Acu features programmable maximum, minimum and default temperatures, duty flush and thermal disinfection capabilities – important tools in the fight to control legionella – complemented by temperature logging and data logging functions.
Both the spout and controls are inset into proprietary wall panel systems and can be accessed, programmed and maintained without the need to demount the panels. It features infra-red, non-touch operation for on/ off and temperature adjustment, with simple programming allowing the selection of timed flow control and fixed or adjustable temperature.
Water flow is flexibly managed between either infra-red on-off activation by the user; or programmable times – as appropriate for the application. Temperatures can be pre-set in three fixed modes – clinical, patient and surgical, within D08 guidelines – or for ‘free use’ (up to a maximum of 48°C), but only available through secure programming.
Help in the fight against legionella is also critical, and the Acu offers two important tools to manage its control. First is a programmable ‘duty flushing’ facility, which automatically operates the valve after a set period of inactivity, and second, Acu also features an inbuilt thermal disinfection function which – under supervision – allows hot water at a temperature of at least 60°C to be flushed through the digital mixing valve and spout.
The spout is the key to activating the product and has been designed to make cleaning easy. It is provided in two lengths to meet the needs of Health Technical Memorandum 64; and hasa unique adapter that supports the installation of ‘Pall-type’ water hygiene filters without compromising spout sensor functionality.
Safety
Acu is BuildCert TMV3 approved and conforms to NHS Estates Model Engineering Specification D08 (ie Type 3 or TMV3 valves). It goes beyond healthcare compliance with HTM 04-01, HBN 26, HBN 57 and HTM 64 (which favours integral thermostatic controls in ‘sanitary assemblies’); and also meets HSG220 (HSE Guidance on Health & Safety in Care Homes).
At the heart of the Acu is Rada’s T-LogicTM digital intelligence, which allows the user to operate, communicate and exchange information with the mixing valve to further underwrite safety, hygiene and control. One flexible Acu unit can be adapted to meet the needs of users in a wide variety of installations.
Designed to be built into a panelled wall, the valve technology is concealed from the users by a sleek and easy-to-clean interface that can be removed to provide access for changing filters or servicing the critical components.
Rada Acu represents the next generation of the company’s T-LogicTM digitally intelligent mixing valves. Designed and developed specifically for healthcare applications, it is the world’s first digital mixing valve that offers advanced features specifically designed to improve access to hand-washing in the fight against HCAIs. By providing non-touch water flow and temperature control with unparalleled safety and accuracy – while helping to control water-borne bacteria – it offers specifiers, users and facilities managers an array of features that guarantee it meets their diverse needs.