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Probiotic cleaning as new technology in the Robert Koch Institute guidelines for hospital hygiene
The previous guidelines date back to 2004. Last November’s update represents a major paradigm change in the approach to hospital hygiene, which was solely focused on disinfection until now.
The newly released recommendation by the Robert Koch Institute Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (available in German only) states in its 6.3 section about probiotic cleaning that “the use of probiotics on surfaces in medical facilities is an interesting approach because probiotic bacteria form a long-term stable microbiome, while the success of disinfection only lasts for a short time. Furthermore, disinfectants are known to stimulate the development of cross-resistance to antibiotics, which is not the case with probiotic cleaning products.”
When microorganisms are removed from a surface by disinfection, the diversity of the surface microbiome is disturbed. Several studies cited in this recommendation conclude that probiotic surface cleaning “allowed a drop “from 4.8% to 2.3% in nosocomial infections (acquired in hospitals)” in comparison to chemical disinfection. In addition, antimicrobial resistance genes decreased by up to 99% during probiotic cleaning, and the use of antibiotics due to nosocomial infections went down by 60.3%, representing a decrease of 75.4% in related costs.
Hospitals now have an effective, improved alternative to disinfection
Robin Temmerman, CEO of HeiQ Chrisal and Head of HeiQ Life Sciences, states: “The new guidelines from a renowned authority such as the Robert Koch Institute prove that our approach to surface cleaning was right and represents an effective, safe, and sustainable new technology for hygiene and infection control. It is extremely satisfying to see that over 10 years of clinical research now results in a different mindset among infection control professionals, opening up for new sustainable technologies like HeiQ Synbio.”
One of the scientists cited in the Robert Koch Institute guidelines, Dr. Tilman E. Klassert from Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, emphasizes: “The inclusion of probiotic cleaning is the result of several years of research that resulted in solid evidence about how it can be used as an effective ally against nosocomial infections, a major problem that needs proper attention.”
In fact, according to the World Health Organization, in a recent information session for its member states on infection prevention and control, hospital-acquired infections affect “hundreds of millions of patients, health workers and hospital visitors” worldwide with significant human suffering and costs for national healthcare systems, adding that “many of the nosocomial infections are completely avoidable.” Even so, 1 in every 10 patients dies from nosocomial infections.
