MANCHESTER, England, October 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospital super bugs may be the biggest challenge facing the NHS but a revolutionary technology - Byotrol - developed by a pioneering British company has helped create a hospital in the United States that is free of hospital acquired MRSA, VRE and C.difficile.

Since the Monroe Hospital opened in Bloomington Indiana, in October 2006 there has never been a recorded case of hospital acquired infection (HCAI).

This breakthrough technology offers a real solution to the UK hospital super bug crisis according to one of the country's foremost experts in hospital acquired infection.

Monroe Hospital's Director of Infection Prevention, James Ballard attributes much of this success to Byotrol. Monroe treats around 13,000 patients annually and would ordinarily be at high risk of HCAI because it undertakes 3,000 bone and joint surgical procedures including hip replacements every year, with many of these being undertaken on older patients.

Byotrol is currently being piloted by Synergy Health for the NHS following a successful study conducted at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 2006 which saw MRSA reduced by 50% by treating just five percent of a ward's high contact surfaces.

Byotrol is a unique anti-microbial technology because it continues to kill micro-organisms for days after it has been applied and even after it has dried (called residual efficacy). A disinfectant such as bleach is only effective for around two minutes after application. After that micro-organisms re-colonise the surface.

Byotrol kills resistant and difficult to kill organisms such as MRSA and VRE yet despite this performance, is extremely gentle on human skin compared to other disinfectants and requires no special precautions or equipment to use it. At present no other technology in the world delivers this.

Monroe Hospital is using Byotrol in several ways. All hospital visitors have to sanitise their hands with Byotrol hand foam on entry. Staff have incorporated Byotrol into their hand hygiene regimes and because the product is alcohol free, it does not dry or crack hands. Byotrol is used to clean hard surfaces and impregnated wipes are used to clean high contact surfaces. Additionally, the hospital exterior is sprayed annually with Byotrol which also prevents growth of algae on stonework.

According to James Ballard, "Byotrol has been central to this success and has allowed us to become a hospital that is proactively preventing infection rather than reacting to it.

"The fact that Byotrol continues to work after it has dried means hard surfaces become residually anti-microbial making it more difficult for micro-organisms to get a foot hold in the hospital. Another important factor is Byotrol is comparable in cost terms with existing disinfectants and because it makes surfaces easier to clean as well as residually anti-microbial it means it takes less time to clean surfaces."

Fred Price, President and Chief Executive Officer, of Monroe Hospital has extensive experience of working in hospital environments in the United States said. "With healthcare career roots of 20 years, I have witnessed trends in anti-microbial solutions to protect patients, healthcare providers and the environment. Infection rates have historically been measured by minimising the risk with an acceptable percentage of infection. That is now history at Monroe Hospital and by partnering with Byotrol we have maintained a zero infections environment since opening our doors 24 months ago. I cannot understand why every healthcare entity that comes in contact with patients doesn't use Byotrol? Our patients depend upon us to be 'bug' free."

Curtis Gemmell, Professor of Bacterial Infection and Epidemiology at the University of Glasgow comments, "This demonstrates there is a proven and practical solution to address the current crisis. It must be stressed that hospitals looking to manage down hospital acquired infections need a combination of robust procedures backed by a management team that have a good understanding of infection prevention and this needs to be underpinned by a powerful technology."

Stephen Falder, Deputy Chairman of Byotrol and inventor of the technology says, "We are delighted with this achievement. Byotrol is revolutionary but we have always said it is not a substitute for good hygienic practice. When coupled with a well managed environment it will make a spectacular difference. We now have a clear example of what can be achieved using Byotrol in a demanding healthcare situation. Having two infection free years in a busy hospital shows what can be achieved and will give real hope to those involved in managing down infections in NHS hospitals. This can significantly turn the tide without having to spend extortionately or behave extraordinarily."

Notes to Editors

1) Further information available at http://www.byotrol.com

2) Broadcast quality audio interviews with full script available on request

3) Video interview with Monroe Hospital available on request

For further information: Jim Rothnie McCann Erickson Communications House T: +44(0)1625-822540 E:jim.rothnie@europe.mccann.com

For further information: Jim Rothnie, McCann Erickson Communications House, T: +44(0)1625-822540, E:jim.rothnie@europe.mccann.com