H1N1 Leads to New Critical Cleaning Logic

Tue Nov 3, 2009 8:00am EST
 
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Leading Hygiene Expert Delivers Cleaning Tips for Flu Season
PHILADELPHIA--(Business Wire)--
H1N1 has led to increased focus on how everyday hygiene affects our health. Not
only is more attention given to managing personal hygiene, but a new cleaning
logic is emerging, where wiping the door knob an extra time1 each day is
considered more important than picking up the dust in the corner. 

H1N1 has made hygiene top-of-mind, particularly with business owners and
operators. Employers are upgrading their washroom equipment and making efforts
to educate their staff on different measures to reduce the risk of catching H1N1
and the common influenza virus. Hand hygiene as well as keeping surfaces clean
and free from germs is regarded as a natural way to contain the spread of swine
flu. 

"H1N1 has increased the focus on how hygiene affects our health," says Dr.
Allison Aiello, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of
Michigan and TorkĀ® Green Hygiene Council member. "While handwashing is one of
the most important ways to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the flu
virus, it is equally important to keep common objects and surfaces clean. This
combination provides the best chance at preventing the spread of the H1N1 or
common seasonal flu virus in one`s home or workplace." 

The influenza virus can survive on surfaces for up to eight hours and may spread
when a person touches droplets, left by hands, coughs or sneezes, on hard
surfaces or objects and then touches his or her mouth or nose2. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that frequently touched surfaces
are to be wiped clean on a regular basis3. 

Single-use logic when cleaning frequently touched surfaces

Viruses can survive on cloth and spread between different surfaces or objects4.
Due to this, one cloth should not be used over and over again. Single-use
products, such as paper towels or disposable cloths, minimize the risk of germs
from a contaminated object being passed on to another surface. 

"Reducing the risk of cross-contamination gives cleaning yet another important
part to play, besides maintaining facilities and fighting bacteria. Using
single-use paper towels and detergent spray on frequently touched objects
reduces the risk of cross-contamination," says Dr. Aiello. 

When using cloths instead of single-use paper towels, these should be replaced
often and used separately for different areas. The TorkĀ® brand offers colored
cloths in red, yellow, blue, green, white and grey. The cloths are durable, but
it is important to replace them regularly to minimize spread. 

Frequently touched surfaces that require extra attention:

* Taps and flush buttons 
* Handrails 
* Elevator buttons 
* Shared office phones or workstations 
* Door knobs 
* Light switches 
* Printers/copying machines 
* Coffee machines

Dr. Allison Aiello`s cleaning advice to prevent cross-contamination:

* Use single-use paper towels and a detergent spray when wiping frequently
touched surfaces. Dispose of the towels immediately afterwards. Use the cleaning
agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the
label. No additional disinfection is needed. 
* If you use cloths instead of single-use paper towels, use disposable cloths or
replace them regularly. 
* Keep cloths for different areas separated and avoid contact between different
surfaces to avoid cross-contamination. The different cloths should be easy to
keep track of. 
* The dryer, the safer. When washing areas like the kitchen, use a highly
absorbent paper afterwards to get surfaces really dry. 
* Don`t use the same cloth on several high risk objects.

About Tork

The Tork brand offers a complete range of products and services within hygiene
and cleaning for away from home washrooms, healthcare, food service and
industry. Through customer understanding and particular expertise in hygiene and
sustainability, Tork has become a market leader in many segments and a committed
partner to businesses in over 90 countries. Tork is a global brand in the SCA
portfolio. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit:
www.torkusa.com. 

About SCA

SCA is a global hygiene and paper company that develops, produces and markets
personal care products, tissue, packaging solutions and solid-wood products,
with sales of around $15 billion USD. The SCA Group employs approximately 50,000
people and has production in 60 countries. The hygiene portfolio includes global
brands TENA and Tork, and regional brands Tempo, Zewa, Velvet, Libero, Libresse
and Edet. SCA hygiene solutions are found in over 90 countries. SCA is
recognized as a global leader in sustainable development. SCA was ranked as the
world`s greenest paper company in 2007 by The Independent newspaper and EIRIS
research. For more information about SCA, hygiene and sustainability, please
visit: www.sca.com. 

About Tork Green Hygiene Council (TGHC)

Tork created the Tork Green Hygiene Council (TGHC) to assist in its ongoing
commitment to providing environmentally friendly and hygienic away from home
washroom solutions. Comprised of top professional and academic authorities from
across the country on green building, corporate sustainability, hygiene and germ
prevention, the TGHC is a council of four experts that offer holistic and
trusted perspectives on how businesses can create sustainable and healthy work
and home environments. 

The TGHC provides independent feedback and advice on Tork`s environmentally and
hygienically friendly initiatives, serves as valued professional resources to
Tork`s partners and customers and provides expertise and industry insight. The
TGHC exists to enhance global awareness of proper sustainability and hygiene
practices to make the world a greener, safer and cleaner place to live and work.


1 Barker J, Stevens D and Bloomfield SF. Spread and prevention of some common
viral infections in community facilities and domestic homes. J Applied
Microbiology. 2001 (91): 7-21. 

2 CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to the 2009-2010
Influenza Season [homepage on the internet]. Atlanta: Centres for Disease
Control and prevention [updated 2009 21 Oct; cited 2009 22 Oct]. Available from:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/guidance/. 

3 Barker J, Stevens D and Bloomfield SF. Spread and prevention of some common
viral infections in community facilities and domestic homes. J Applied
Microbiology. 2001 (91): 7-21. 

4 Bean B, Moore BM, Sterner B, Peterson LR, Gerding DN, Balfour HH Jr. Survival
of influenza viruses on environmental surfaces. J Infect Dis. 1982 Jul; 146 (1):
47-51.

Eileen Garrity, Cramer-Krasselt
312-616-3869 OR egarrity@c-k.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009

 

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