Heidenheim/Hamburg, June 20, 2022 – Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of proper hand hygiene has become widely recognized. The digital NosoEx® system from GWA Hygiene offers targeted support for nurses, doctors, and hygiene professionals. As part of its digital approach, HARTMANN will now distribute this hygiene solution to healthcare facilities, thereby strengthening its Mission: Infection Prevention program
More than half a million people in Germany contract nosocomial infections (commonly referred to as hospital-acquired infections) each year. The fear of infection during a hospital stay is significant, with 81% of patients stating it is one of their greatest concerns during inpatient treatment [1].
“Good hand hygiene is one of the most important measures to break the chain of infection. Our powerful hand disinfectants play a central role in this. But we’re now taking it a step further by offering a digital solution that supports medical facilities in ensuring and improving hand hygiene.”
Alexander Schwieger, Global Head of the Disinfection Division at HARTMANN and Managing Director of BODE Chemie, a HARTMANN subsidiary and manufacturer of the Sterillium® brand.
Through its partnership with GWA Hygiene, HARTMANN is expanding its Mission: Infection Prevention. This holistic infection prevention approach now includes another proven digital solution.
“Every day, clinics and care facilities work hard to protect health. With our digital offering, we want to create direct added value that protects both staff and patients,” continues Schwieger. “Awareness of hand hygiene compliance has developed significantly over the past two years. Nevertheless, the pandemic has also revealed areas where further progress is still needed.”
HARTMANN Becomes Distribution Partner for NosoEx®: Digital Monitoring of Hand Disinfection
Together with Maik Gronau and Tobias Gebhardt, managing directors of the Stralsund-based start-up GWA Hygiene, Alexander Schwieger has now agreed on a partnership: HARTMANN will take over the distribution of NosoEx®, a digital tool for tracking and recording hand disinfection activity.
The system consists of sensors and accompanying software. Doctors, nursing staff, and cleaning personnel in a hospital are equipped with transponders. A sensor module on each disinfectant dispenser records usage — anonymously and categorized by staff group. The data is sent to the hospital’s hygiene department, which can then determine whether staff are disinfecting their hands sufficiently or if action is needed. The amount of disinfectant used is also tracked — to determine inventory levels and ultimately assess the quality of hand disinfection. Too little disinfectant leads to gaps in coverage, resulting in inadequate hygiene.
In maximum care hospitals with over 1,500 beds, the introduction of NosoEx® has led to a 27% increase in hand disinfections — a strong indication that both awareness and compliance improve when targeted measures and solutions are implemented [2]
Hand Hygiene Can Save Lives
The idea for NosoEx® came to Maik Gronau during a hospital stay several years ago:
“I noticed that one group of staff disinfected their hands more frequently than another. That made me wonder: Why is that the case? And more importantly — is that acceptable?”
The result was NosoEx®, named after nosocomial infections — hospital-acquired infections.
“Hand disinfection is a crucial way to avoid hospital infections. Therefore, having a standardized approach in clinics is essential.”
Tobias Gebhardt adds:
“In the 21st century, this kind of data must be available at the push of a button — that’s our mission. We want to be the digital assistant for hospital hygiene. Hygiene is a team sport, and with our partnership with HARTMANN, we’re clearly practicing that teamwork.”
Alexander Schwieger concludes:
“We are convinced that this measure can significantly increase hand hygiene compliance, reduce infections considerably, and ultimately save lives.”
About the HARTMANN GROUP
The HARTMANN GROUP is a leading European provider of system solutions for healthcare and nursing. Healthcare professionals and patients rely daily on HARTMANN’s product brands in the core segments of:
- Incontinence management (e.g., MoliCare®)
- Wound care (e.g., Zetuvit®)
- Infection prevention (e.g., Sterillium®)
This is expressed through the brand promise: “Helps. Cares. Protects.”
In 2021, HARTMANN achieved a turnover of €2.3 billion. Founded in 1818, the company is now present in more than 130 countries with its products and solutions. The HARTMANN GROUP is currently implementing a strategic transformation program supported by its high-performance, customer-oriented, and passionate team.
Sources
[1] Statista, Which of the following things worry you the most during an inpatient hospital stay?
[2] GWA Hygiene, Customer Testimonials