Dispenser to combat MRSA
October 1st 2005

In the fight against MRSA and other hospital acquired infections, Brightwell Dispensers has launched the MSD Plus, a new version of its Modular Soap Dispenser. First launched in 2004, the dispenser's revolutionary design broke the mould in hand care hygiene. Instead of having dedicated dispensers for liquid soap, foam soap and spray soap, the MSD offers all types of dispensing within a universal stylish enclosure, through the simple exchange of the pump mechanism. These pumps can be changed out in seconds, and can handle all types of hand care product, including lotions, alcohol gels and sprays.

Another key feature of the MSD is the pusher design. In many dispensers the pusher is relatively small, and where elbow operation is required, typically in hospitals, an adaptor has to be fitted. The need for this was factored out of the MSD by making the whole of the front cover the pump actuator. This has made the dispenser universally acceptable in virtually every environment.

However, it is the company's latest development with the MSD that is the most exciting aspect of the battle against crosscontamination.

This often occurs when inanimate objects (fomites) such as door push plates or handles become part of the route of transmission, but what is often overlooked is the way we wash our hands.

In the pursuit of high standards of hand hygiene, it is ironic that the very means by which we acquire the soap or alcohol gel can lead to cross-contamination. Although we have got rid of many of the fomites such as bar soap and old-fashioned roller towels, the surface of the soap dispenser can harbour germs. In hospitals, this is often countered by the use of elbow operated pusher adaptors so that hands never come into contact with the dispenser itself, and that is covered by the MSD's inherent design.

This in itself helps to reduce hand contact, but now Brightwell is offering a further improvement called the Modular Plus soap dispenser. This is where an additive called BrightsilverTM is mixed with the raw material during manufacture. The result is a cover, back plate and window, which inhibit the growth of organisms that may be deposited on the surface during use. Effective against E.coli, Salmonella and MRSA amongst others, it is available at a small premium, and in all three variants - liquid soap/gel, spray soap and foam soap.

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