Biomedical Technology for preventing the spread of infection causing pathogens in hospital and small practitioner environments.
Company News|Press Releases:
Letter from The NJ Commission on Science and Technology
Letter from the Honorable Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, Eleventh District, NJ
Innovative hand sanitation system trumps hospital acquired infections; fully sanitizes hands conveniently in three seconds without irritation, advancing patient care and safety.
For Release July 10, 2007
DOVER, NJ - A new hand sanitation device for use by hospital healthcare workers and
doctors has been demonstrated by Germgard Lighting LLC, a New Jersey based, early
phase, medical technology company.
"It is a unique device" said Dr. Eugene Gordon, Germgard's acting CEO and CTO. "In
a field in which effective hand sanitation technology has been absent for so long,
and viable solutions are desperately needed, the new hand sanitizer is a timely and
important contribution. Hospital acquired infections; almost 3 million annually in
the U.S., result in approximately 100,000 deaths and an associated healthcare cost
of over $30 billion. Current infection control practice is bare hand sanitation
between patient visits often followed by donning medical exam gloves. However,
recontamination of the gloved hand inevitably occurs when room surfaces, healthcare
worker's and doctor's clothing, instruments, etc. inevitably covered by pathogens,
are touched by the healthcare worker's hand during a patient visit and then transferred
to the patient during care. We believe that this is the primary and not to be ignored
route for transmission of hospital acquired infections. Our patented device, based on
ultraviolet (UV-C) exposure of the gloved hand within a small, closed volume, has been
designed to allow a system of frequent, fast, and immediately available hand sanitation
during patient care, interrupting the infection pathway in a way that infrequent bare
hand sanitation cannot. The UV-C is blocked by the exam gloves and no UV-C leaves the
device, hence the process is totally safe for the healthcare worker, doctor, and patient."
According to Dr. Anthony Harris, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, "Germgard's approach represents a
potentially innovative improvement over the current practice of bare hand sanitation between
patient visits and within a given patient visit. By potentially improving disinfection
compliance, it may advance patient care, protect the patient, and improve healthcare delivery
outcomes."
The ongoing testing study, carried out by MaryPaul Laboratories of Sparta, NJ has demonstrated,
in preliminary studies, that Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the first of a series of test pathogens,
was inactivated to better than 99.999% in 3 seconds over all glove surfaces including the
space between fingers. The demonstrated sanitation capability significantly exceeds current
infection control guidelines published by CDC, and requirements set by FDA.
Ongoing studies will challenge a variety of organisms, including Bacillus spores.
Dr. Harris added "The technology could substantially mitigate nosocomial infections including
those from antibiotic resistant bacteria such as MRSA by reducing hand colonization within
patient contact opportunities."
Additionally, it is anticipated that this technology will demonstrate that it can inactivate
all pathogens including virus, and rugged C. difficile and anthrax spores. Current bare hand
hygiene practice based on lengthy hand washing and/or alcohol rubs; takes about 30 seconds,
typically achieves only 99.5% inactivation, and is unable to sanitize spores.
The Company expects that the device will be appreciated by overburdened health care workers
who are under constant pressure to improve their hand sanitation habits.
Germgard Lighting LLC is located in the innovation incubator at the U.S. Army Arsenal in
Picatinny, NJ. Its product focus is in the area of infection prevention by sanitation of
gloves, medical instrument sterilization, and sterilizing indoor air.
Media Contact:
Peter Gordon, VP of Marketing, Germgard Lighting LLC
(Phone) 973-607-1542
(FAX) 973-607-1543
(e-mail) pgordon@germgardlighting.com
(Website) www.germgardlighting.com