CM/Spotlight: Infection control Continued from page 26 (Microban ® ) and the possibility that it can cause resistant bacteria to prosper. Nor is it just about occasionally spraying an office telephone handset or a door knob with a disinfectant. It is really about the far more extensive and serious problem being created by the thoughtless introduction of a multitude of man-made toxins into our daily environ-ment as a necessary step toward “Healthy Cleaning.” Antimicrobials are toxic in one way or another to microorganisms. Toxic is defined as “having the effects of a poison.” A poison, in turn, is defined as “a sub-stance that can destroy life or impair health by its chemical action inside the body.” So, are we to believe that adding an ever-increasing volume of poisons to our indoor environment is really a vital part of the new “green” movement meant to increase the quality and longevity of human life? When the poison promoters tell us that effective surface cleaning must destroy all microscopic life we encounter in the process, are they showing sound judgment? This is not the best approach because there is nothing logical or reasonable in those positions. demand for more killing of the denizens of the microscopic world around us. Should cleaners be more concerned with the destruction of microorganisms than with the removal of dust and grime? Should custodians focus on becoming assassins of the unseen? Is this truly health-focused cleaning? Is it the right thing to do? Healthy cleaning The Times article points to several things we need to think about. One is the ease with which we can be exposed to antimicrobial chemicals in the home and workplace. They are in every-thing from hand soaps to mouse pads. But the cleaning industry’s concern is not just about the ubiquitous triclosan Should custodians focus on becoming assassins of the unseen? Is this truly health-focused cleaning? Is it the right thing to do? THE NEW STANDARD IN TOUCH-FREE CLEANING CONVENIENCE Clearing the air Let’s consider three fallacies. First, some have the mistaken notion that to protect our health we need to kill everything microscopic with which we may come into contact, even if, in attempt-ing to do so, we weaken our immune sys-tems, requiring us to be even more persist-ent in killing everything we come into con-tact with, further weakening our immune systems … and so on. Protecting ourselves by building our immune systems and eliminating toxins is the safer way to go. And, we don’t need to kill microbes to be protected, simply avoid or remove them. Hand washing with soap and water is an extremely effective defense against the spread of norovirus, MRSA and a host of other harmful organisms that can cause no illness until ingested. We don’t need to kill them all; we just need to keep them out of our bodies by good personal hygiene. Second, we cannot exist without many E • CLEA BL N SI ICS SERIES BATTERY POWERED MOBILE CLEANING SYSTEM The ICS Series Mobile Cleaning System utilizes automated touch-free technology for daily cleaning applications. Ideal for use in: IRONME N L TA LY RESPO N V EN For more information, please contact Hydro Systems at 1-800-543-7184 Circle Product Information no. 217 on page 34 28 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • February 2009 IN YSTEM G S •
CMM – Archives Feb 2009: 28
