Swine Flu - Our advice on how to reduce keyboard contamination
I’m sure you have been reading and hearing a lot recently on the spread of Swine flu and its potential to cause a flu pandemic if not controlled.
The virus appears already to have started to spread around the world, and most experts believe that containment of the virus in a time of readily available air travel will be extremely difficult.The World Health Organization says that restricting flights will actually have little effect. It argues that screening of passengers is also unlikely to have much impact, as symptoms may not be apparent in many infected people.
We know that Swine flu is a viral respiratory disease, caused by influenza type A which infects pigs. There are many types, and the infection is constantly changing. Up to now it has not normally infected humans, however, the latest form clearly does, and can be spread from person to person - probably through coughing and sneezing.
Are you at risk?
The simple answer to that question is YES.
Every day we are exposed to airborne and surface bound germs, whether you are opening a door, using a dishcloth or sitting in a railway carriage. However, normally your immune system is able to dealing with these germs without any help.
Why use Techclean?
Over the past 26 years Techclean have developed a range of specialist cleaning products and procedures designed to help reduce the levels of cross contamination in the workplace via PCs, keyboards, telephones and other office equipment.
Regularly deep cleaning of all your electrical equipment such as PCs, keyboards, mouse and monitors using specialist cleaning companies such as Techclean is very important if you wish to reduce the levels of potentially lethal germs. Please be aware that attempting to clean your equipment using water based cleaning fluids will not only damage your equipment it might also cause electrocution.
Byoclean Hard Surface Wipes
Byoclean is Techcleans’ unique sanitizing hard surface wipe. Byoclean has been extensively tested in a number of applications, including thorough research in NHS hospitals and has been shown to safely control or eradicate the threats caused by micro-organisms, such as MRSA, e-coli and c-difficile. We now offer this product as part of cleaning regime.
What measures can I take to prevent infection?
Frequent cleaning, disinfecting, and early education of family members will go a long way towards helping stop any germs in their tracks:
- Get into the habit of washing your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating lunch or snacks and after coming home
- Regularly deep cleaning your electrical equipment using specialist cleaning materials or using companies such as Techclean is important to reduce levels of potentially lethal germs
- Avoid putting your hands in your mouth
- Always wash your hands after visit the toilet or preparing food
- Always clean equipment with anti viral & bacterial wipes – this will eradicate viruses & bacteria but will significantly reduce the levels
- Encourage your entire family to wash their hands as often as possible
- Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources
- Wash uncooked vegetables thoroughly before eating them
- Pay attention to sell by and use by dates
- Teach your family to cover their nose and mouth with a sleeve/handkerchief and not their hands when coughing or sneezing and dispose of used tissues.
- Make sure you drink from separate glasses or cups
- Use your own eating utensils, as sharing may spread germs
- At home, disinfect commonly touched surfaces like telephones, doors handles, the refrigerator door, remote and game controls, computer keyboard, doorknobs and toys regularly using a specialist hard surface wipe such as Byoclean.
Isn't cleaning with soap and hot water good enough?
No. Soap and water remove some germs from surfaces, but they cannot kill those germs. In fact, they may spread them around. Just because a surface looks clean, it doesn't mean it's clean from a health standpoint. Only a disinfectant can claim to kill a broad spectrum of harmful bacteria and viruses.
Byoclean - Questions and Answers
What is Byoclean?
Byoclean is a new approach to microbial control that uses a physical effect combined with a chemical control to give broadband / broad spectrum sanitization of treated materials.
How does Byoclean work?
Byoclean has a three stage effect on organisms and it uses changes in surface tension as the basis of its attack on bacteria. Byoclean interferes with the conditioning of the surface, such as a wall or table, before the bug lands, making it more difficult for the micro organism to settle on the surface and stay there and reproduce.
When the bacteria secretes material in an attempt to form a biofilm, the secretion compounds - proteins, polysaccharides or oily type materials - are all disrupted by the pervading surface tension regime, making it much more difficult or impossible for the bug to form a firm attachment to the surface.
Finally, the bug, in its weakened state, succumbs to the gentlest of biocidal action provided by the associated biocides contained within Byoclean. These are not heavy duty compounds, but when acting on such a tiny life form as a micro organism, they cause the bug's membrane to burst before it has a chance to reproduce.
What does microbial control mean?
It means taking the risk out of the presence of microbes by (in Byoclean's case) hugely reducing the potential for reproduction and the viable numbers of microbes to safe levels.
How can Byoclean be used and where?
Byoclean should be used anywhere where concern about microbial contamination is an issue. Byoclean can be used with a surface cleaner such as Keyclean.
Why is Byoclean safe to use?
Byoclean is safe to use because the physical effect is targeted at microscopic levels and has negligible effect on larger organisms (like a mousetrap does not endanger an elephant). The physical effect weakens the 'bugs' so the required chemical (biocides) doses are kept to a minimum.
What makes Byoclean long-lasting?
The polymer backbone keeps Byoclean at the surface preventing the biocides from being "eroded" away.
Byoclean Characteristics
Byoclean technology produces sanitizer products that exhibit the properties of an Ideal anti-microbial
Residual / Durable long lasting activity
Effective days to months even after it dries
Broadband efficacy including superbugs
Effective against "Hospital Superbugs" (MRSA, VRE, c. difficile), algae, fungi and viruses
Developed resistance extremely unlikely
The technology affects all microscopic organisms, physically damaging them and rendering all vulnerable to the chemical controls
Low toxicity
Not considered poisonous to humans, animals or plants
Easy to use
Simple application
Environmentally friendly
Fully biodegradable -breaks down when in landfill / waste water
Byoclean does not contain:
Antibiotics Over use of which can lead to resistance
Heavy metals (mercury and lead) These are poisons
Toxic metal salts (tin and copper etc) Create residue problems
Poly Chlorinated Bi-Phenols Create Dioxin problems
Patents
UK Patent No 2374011 granted 03/05
RSA Patent No 2003/5185 granted 08/04
USA Patent No 10/039672 application 01/02
EU Patent No 02740031.6 application 01/02
Byoclean’s new approach combined with good hygienic practice will control microbes safely and effectively for years to come.
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