What is a bacterial spore?
In bacteria a rounded resistant form adopted by a bacterial cell in adverse conditions. The actual living cell, called the vegetative cell, produces a protective layer (spore) around its DNA until favorable conditions return.

Some spores can remain dormant on a surface for an extended period of time. Since the spore is dormant, it is not vulnerable to many disinfectants that can kill its active form. Nocolyse is one of the disinfectants that have the ability to kill these spores.

Decreasing order of resistance of microorganisms to disinfection and sterilization and the level of disinfection or sterilization

Spore-forming and non-spore-forming bacteria are two types of bacteria classified based on the ability to form spores. Spore-forming bacteria include some species of Bacillus and Clostridium while some non-spore-forming bacteria belong to the families Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonidaceae.

Candida auris is a species of fungus first described in 2009, which grows as yeast¹. It is one of the few species of the genus Candida which cause candidiasis in humans. Often, candidiasis is acquired in hospitals by patients with weakened immune systems.

• Candidiasis of the mucous membranes of the mouth is known as thrush and is a common fungus infection; it is usually localized and mild but may spread into a generalized cutaneous eruption. Perlèche is a Candida infection occurring at the corners of the mouth.
• Candidiasis of the mucous membranes of the vagina is called vaginitis; it is most common in diabetic or pregnant women.
• Candidiasis of the skin is most likely to occur in the folds, especially in moist areas such as the armpits, between the buttocks, and in the navel. The folds between the fingers and around the nails are often affected in persons whose hands are frequently wet.

¹ Reference: www.britannica.com/science/candidiasis

The flu is caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. These viruses spread when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk, sending droplets with the virus into the air and potentially into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. You can also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching your own mouth, eyes or nose.

Reference: www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/influenza/symptoms-causes-and-risk.html

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a type of bacteria called enterococci that have developed resistance to many antibiotics, especially vancomycin. Enterococci bacteria live in our intestines and on our skin, usually without causing problems. But if they become resistant to antibiotics, they can cause serious infections, especially in people who are ill or weak. These infections can occur anywhere in the body. Some common sites include the intestines, the urinary tract, and wounds.

VRE, like many bacteria, can be spread from one person to another through casual contact or through contaminated objects. Most often, VRE infections are spread from the hands of health care workers to a patient in a hospital or other facility such as a nursing home. VRE infections are not usually spread through the air like the common cold or flu virus unless you have VRE pneumonia and are coughing, which is rare.

HAIs refers to infections that occur after admission or soon after discharge from a hospital where the person was not colonized with the disease or did not show symptoms when admitted initially.

Cleaning refers to removing visible dirt and debris; disinfection refers to eradicating pathogens that you may or may not be able to see.

To be a sporicide means you can eliminate spores to a certain level. That level achieved and the methods that must be used to achieve that benchmark level of kill are defined by the regulatory body of a particular region (ex. Health Canada, the EPA).

In Canada to be officially considered a sporicide a product must be able to achieve a 6 log reduction of spores. In other words, when used according to the directions of the product you are able to reduce the number of spores present by 99.9999%. For more information on the rules that apply please go to: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodpharma/applic-demande/guide-ld/disinfect-desinfect/notice_faq_disinfec_avis_faq-eng.php

Decreasing order of resistance of microorganisms to disinfection and sterilization and the level of disinfection or sterilization

In practical terms, biofilm describes certain types of ‘slime’ you might see growing on a surface that is not easily, effectively or frequently cleaned. Biofilm is a particular situation where free floating microorganisms attach to a surface and begin to form bonds with each other and the surface. If those bonds aren’t broken up soon after they begin to form the biofilm will begin to grow by protecting the cells and allowing those cells to multiply, and by attracting and facilitating the adhesion of new cells. As this grows it becomes stronger and harder to eliminate.

Room volume is calculated by taking the length of the room, multiplying it by width and again by height. For example, a room 5 meters in length, by 4 meters wide, with a ceiling 5 meters high. The volume of that room is calculated as 5 m X 4 m X 5 m = 100 m³

No, the system should be run with no one present in the room. For safety questions, please contact the Nocospray Team.

No, in addition to being effective the Nocospray system can fit into existing protocols and set ups. AMG Medical works with you and your staff for training and implementation. Our customer service and web tools are also available to end users.

The term ‘grey zone’ refers to a situation that lacks clearly defined characteristics. In the context of healthcare cleaning and disinfection it refers to a cleaning or disinfection task where it is unclear who is responsible to do it.

Let’s take cleaning wheelchairs between patients. A wheelchair is often used by multiple patients and it may be unclear whose responsibility it is to clean the wheelchair between patients – the nurse assigned to the unit or environmental services.

The room should be cleaned; expose as many hard surfaces as possible (open drawers and drapes, remove sheets); turn off all negative/positive pressure systems; close windows and entry/exit doors.

The system’s proprietary disinfectant Nocolyse inserts into the Nocospray machine; the volume of the room is used to choose the appropriate setting; the machine is powered on and begins to disperse Nocolyse after a brief delay, allowing the operator time to leave the room.

Nocospray can be used to disinfect hard surfaces in any enclosed area such as hospital rooms, operating rooms, hotel rooms and classrooms.

Nocospray is a disinfection system that can be used to help stop or prevent an outbreak.