Controlling iatrogenic infections

Disinfectant ‘could beat’ superbugs. A major health risk of hospitalization comes from highly resistant bacteria. This British news story reports on a new disinfectant that might decrease patient transmission of resistant bacteria.

An extra-strong disinfectant could help hospitals beat superbugs which affect thousands of patients each year. The sterilising liquid is strong enough to clean surfaces and surgical instruments, but it does not harm eyes or skin, and could even be drunk safely.

Its developers, Chester-based Medipure Ltd, say it is better than previous “super disinfectants” because it does not have any hazardous side-effects.

Medipure say their Suprox liquids can kill bugs including E.coli, salmonella and tuberculosis bacterium.

The liquid is a sodium chloride solution which is activated with an electrical charge.

Jim Daly, a chemist and chemical engineer who is leading the research into the super-disinfectant, said the liquid could have many uses.

“We can see so many applications for it, from medical to horticultural and even in animal husbandry.”

He told BBC News Online: “It is a very powerful disinfectant which is capable of killing anthrax and it’s very useful for sterilising surgical instruments.

“And MRSA would be killed by this technology.”

Dr Daly said: “The thing is that you can’t become immune to this. It totally destroys the cell wall of the micro-organism, it doesn’t just gently affect the DNA.”

This sounds like a promising story – as usual the appropriately skeptical reader will await the data!