HCEG Healthcare Ent.

RNS Number:8943F
Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC
01 December 2004


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC


Ebiox Handrub


Health Protection Agency review confirms effectiveness against Hospital Acquired
Infections


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC is pleased to report a satisfactory outcome from
the Rapid Review panel of the Health Protection Agency, following tests at the
Hospital Infection Research Laboratory, showing that the Ebiox Handrub conforms
to EN 1500.


EN1500 is the standard by which the efficacy of non-water based products is
tested under practical conditions. In tests earlier this year Ebiox Handrub
exceeded the standards set by EN1500 when tested against e-coli bacteria. The
Handrub has previously passed prEN12054 including efficacy against other
bacteria including MRSA.  These earlier tests demonstrated a 99.999% reduction
in all test organisms within 30 seconds, significantly exceeding the one-minute
test target.


HCEG believes that the Ebiox Handrub is the first non-alcohol based product that
is compliant with EU standards and has been developed to be better than alcohol
as a hand hygiene solution.  The Ebiox non-alcohol Handrub decontaminates hands
without drying or irritating the skin, and has been specifically designed to be
user-friendly to encourage more hand cleaning than the existing washing protocol
achieves.


An independent survey by Nursix has shown that two thirds of nurses reported
skin problems using alcohol based products and that they would be more compliant
with NHS protocols if a non-alcohol based product were available.


The Rapid Review Panel has concluded that Ebiox hand disinfectant; "may have
potential value as an alternative to alcohol-based gels for hand hygiene: in use
evaluations/trials are now needed in an NHS clinical setting to show
acceptability in routine use".


Stuart Bruck, Executive Chairman, Healthcare Enterprise Group, commented:


"These tests now provide a stamp of approval from the Government taking us to
the next step in our bid to tackle the Hospital Acquired Infections epidemic.


"We will be guided by the Rapid Review Panel which recommends on the ground
tests in an NHS setting."


The Rapid Review Panel was set up by the Health Protection Agency in August 2004
in response to the Chief Medical Officer's Action Area 7 in Winning Ways.


The remit of the Panel is to promptly assess new procedures and products with
regard to their potential effectiveness and ability to prevent, reduce or
control healthcare associated infections (HCAI).



The key element of acceptability is the demonstration of a significant effect on
HCAI in the clinical setting. Ideally, this will be the result of formal
clinical studies reported in peer-reviewed publications.

                                                                 1 December 2004


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC                                  020 7351 7500
Stuart Bruck, Executive Chairman

College Hill                                                     020 7457 2020
Nicholas Nelson/Corinna Dorward






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