NEW ORLEANS--Hand-washing and frequent wiping of surfaces, such as counters and handrails, are necessary elements in institutional infection-control protocols. Effective as these techniques are, though, they are labor-intensive, not automated, and do not counter airborne bacteria--one of the primary mechanisms for the spread of disease. With the introduction of Prolitec's aria air-sanitizing agent, assisted-living facilities, hospitals, medical offices, and other enclosed spaces have a means of addressing this gap in infection control. Prolitec's Aerobiology and Infection Control Division unveiled the new aria system at the 2010 annual conference of the Washington, D.C.-based Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. The aria air-sanitizing system, which won EPA registration in November 2009, uses newly patented Prolitec technology to generate an invisible "dry" vapor of a safe and effective air sanitizing agent. The vapor can be distributed within a space directly from a small wall-mounted appliance or indirectly through an air handler. The result is a uniformly distributed vapor compliant with OSHA air-contaminant restrictions for workplace inhalation--one that is nondamaging to materials and electronics, yet significantly decreases the numbers of viable airborne bacteria under wide conditions of relative humidity and temperature. "Bacteria and other microorganisms are frequently introduced into the air by actions such as sneezing and coughing," noted Dr. Craig A. Kelly, a Johns Hopkins University scientist and chief of Prolitec's Aerobiology and Infection-Control unit.. "Once microorganisms are airborne they can be inhaled or can settle and contaminate surfaces. The function of the aria system is to reduce the concentration of airborne bacteria in a continuous and automated manner, thereby reducing the likelihood of inhalation or surface-settling of viable microorganisms." Added Richard Weening, CEO of Milwaukee-based Prolitec: "An important feature of aria is that it is fully automated and works 24 hours a day, seven days a week without any human intervention. The aria system can safely and effectively reduce background levels of airborne bacteria to establish the foundation of a successful infection-control protocol. It is the one part of the program that will always be 100% compliant." According to Dr. Kelly, "Amid heightened awareness of disease transmission by airborne microorganisms, aria provides a critical tool for the infection-control professional to address airborne bacteria in a way that was not previously available. That can translate into a greater sense of safety and well-being for patients, residents, caregivers and visitors alike."
For more information, go to www.prolitec.com.
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