The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates two million patients are diagnosed with hospital-acquired infections annually. Due to hard-to-clean equipment and the transfer of bacteria, approximately 98,987 of those two million patients died. This equals over 275 deaths a day, which is more than the number of breast and prostate cancer deaths combined. And the human consequences aren’t the only concern. Patients with hospital-acquired infections on average stay 19 days longer than other patients. This costs the healthcare system $30 billion annually in the US alone. The numbers are just too alarming to go on without being addressed.
Through her career as a nurse and nursing professor, Kathleen Puri was always bothered that patients frequently do not have the ability to clean or sanitise their hands without the help of a healthcare worker. While healthcare worker hand hygiene has long been a topic of concern, patient hand hygiene does not receive the same attention. The major void in patient care and patient comfort inspired Kathleen to fight the issue head on. With this in mind, Fitsi, the ultimate bedside caddy was born.
Fitsi cares
Kathleen quickly discovered that patients often skip washing their hands after using a bedpan, sneezing, touching unclean surfaces, interacting with other patients — all because they’d rather not trouble the nurse for assistance to the bathroom sink. Kathleen and her team determined that many of the hospital-acquired infections and feelings of inconvenience could be avoided if patients had easier access to personal hygiene products and their personal belongings. Instead, whether it be the need for independence or pride, patients often subject themselves to further illness by not calling the nurse for assistance.
According to CDC, “Hand hygiene is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infections, including the common cold, flu and even hard to treat infections.” This means, due to insufficient patient hand hygiene and the exposure to various forms of pathogens, an alarming number of patients are contracting ailments far worse than their original diagnosis. Armed with the cause to help prevent many hospital-acquired infections, Kathleen had the perfect solution to create a breakthrough for patient hygiene.
To help them take Fitsi from idea to reality, Kathleen began working with her daughter, Caroline Mitchell, to bring her idea to life. Puri describes Fitsi as “a hospital bedside caddy designed to improve both the patient and caregiver experience. Fitsi gives patients the ability to clean their hands without the help of a caregiver, as well as a place to store comfort essentials (moisturiser and lip balm) and personal items (phone, glasses and more). Its patented design clips to a hospital bedrail and rotates to accommodate different bed positions and provide easy patient access.” Fitsi is everything a patient could need, specifically their sanitation items, conveniently stored less than an arms-length away.
When cleanliness is crucial
Fitsi Health knew they had the perfect concept, but they needed to ensure their design was built to last. Just as patients were vulnerable to various pathogens, the bedside caddy’s plastic would also need protection from the many passing microorganisms.
While there were many antimicrobial options, finding one without the use of triclosan proved more difficult. Despite having many benefits, the Food and Drug Administration was investigating triclosan’s properties as “studies in bacteria have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.”
Through Fitsi’s search to find an alternative to triclosan, they discovered Plastics Colour Corporation, a global leader in the plastic industry with over 50 years of experience providing colour concentrates, functional additives and custom polymer masterbatches.
Puri stated, “Plastics Colour’s excellent customer service, paired with their knowledgeable and helpful team, is what ultimately led us to the selection and implementation of their antimicrobial solution.”
Together it was decided that Plastics Colour’s silver ion based MicroBlok® S would be an ideal fit for Fitsi. Added in with the colourant and resin without any additional material alterations, MicroBlok is a long-term solution to inhibit the growth of a broad spectrum of microorganisms on the treated plastic. Unlike antibacterial solutions’ one-time quick fix to attempt to kill bacteria on contact, MicroBlok is the ultimate preventative measure to help address consumer concerns — not only today, but for the future as well. And best of all, the use of silver ions meant that triclosan was not needed or used to formulate the antimicrobial solution.
Perfect for hospitals, doctors’ offices or any facility where medical devices, medical packaging or appliance cleanliness is crucial, MicroBlok offers the most comprehensive line of antimicrobials in the industry. MicroBlok’s custom-formulated antimicrobials for polymers inhibit the growth of bacteria, which may cause stains, odors and product deterioration. Common medical applications that benefit from the inclusion of MicroBlok in addition to bedside caddies are plastic gloves, scrub brushes, surgical instruments and dental trays to name a few.
Lab-tested; Patient-approved
MicroBlok has undergone rigorous laboratory testing under ISO 22196:2011, which ensures it has the high efficiency antimicrobial action that Fitsi demands. Backed by the product deterioration prevention power of MicroBlok, Fitsi is ready to provide a much-needed upgrade in patient comfort and care.
MicroBlok® is formulated with antimicrobials to help suppress the growth of odour and stain-causing microorganisms on the treated plastic. MicroBlok is not intended as a substitute for good hygiene or to prevent foodborne or infectious illnesses.
