Ecolab's Nexa hand hygiene dispensing platform is said to make it easier to promote good hand-washing practices and reduce the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare, foodservice, hospitality, long-term care and commercial facilities.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 80% of all infections are transmitted by hands, and hand washing is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Failing to wash one's hands sufficiently contributes significantly to the spread of foodborne illnesses and also to the 1.7 million hospital-acquired infections that occur in the US each year. A June 2013 study by Michigan State University found that only 5% of those observed in public washrooms washed their hands long enough to remove dangerous bacteria.
'The reasons for poor hand hygiene can range from individuals not fully understanding the health risks to feeling they are too busy,' said Andy Cooper, VP of Research, Development & Engineering at Ecolab. 'We've designed Nexa to deliver on key aesthetic and functionality needs, while being flexible and simple to use. Nexa also incorporates key design elements, such as creating an antimicrobial push bar for the manual dispenser to help inhibit the growth of bacteria, mould and mildew.'
The Nexa platform can dispense a number of Ecolab hand hygiene products, including liquid and foam hand soaps, lotions, hand sanitisers and body shampoos, all from the same unit, making changing of products easy.
Depending upon the product used, dispensers can be installed near commercial kitchen sinks, in rest rooms and public spaces in commercial buildings, and at nurses' stations, in patient rooms and in public areas of healthcare facilities.
Nexa's design offers easy product identification through optional colour-coded badges and language-free icons; adjustable dosing; compact dispensers; better inventory management through the ability to hold both large and small product bottles; less waste through patented pumps that dispense up to 99% of product; and greater sustainability through the use of HDPE-recyclable materials.
As part of Ecolab's hand hygiene programme, customers receive regular service visits, customised planning, placement support, ongoing inventory monitoring and free installation. In addition, expert training is offered on proper hand hygiene practices, product and equipment use.
The product will be available in Europe in the first quarter of 2015.
