Infection Intel: Updates From Crothall Healthcare and Ascendco Health, Freestyle Partners, and Shionogi & Co

Infection Control Today's Infection Intel: Staying Ahead With Company Updates and Product Innovations

Infection Intel is the column for Infection Control Today^® (ICT^®) that covers the latest news, including updates on product developments, mergers, and more from companies in the infection control and prevention field.

This installment is news from Crothall Healthcare and Ascendco Health, Freestyle Partners, and Shionogi & Co.

Freestyle Partners, LLC

(Credit: Freestyle Partners, LLC)

Freestyle Partners, LLC, revealed the outcomes of a groundbreaking in-hospital disinfection study utilizing handheld Filtered Far UV-C devices. Led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the study demonstrated a significant reduction of healthcare-acquired infection-causing pathogens from high-touch clinical surfaces. This innovation addresses the challenge of disinfecting surfaces that manual methods often miss.

Health care-acquired infections (HAIs) are a pervasive issue, causing 99,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. Traditional cleaning methods often fail to adequately disinfect surfaces, with studies showing that half of healthcare surfaces remain insufficiently disinfected. The cost of combating HAIs in the U.S. healthcare system amounts to billions yearly.

The study, conducted in hematologic malignancy and stem cell units, showed promising results in reducing surface pathogens known to cause HAIs. The handheld Filtered Far UV-C devices offer a “no-touch” disinfection solution, complementing manual methods.

The efficacy study's results have been accepted for presentation at esteemed infectious disease conferences, underscoring the significance of this innovation in healthcare infection control. Filtered Far UV-C technology is human-safe and rapidly eliminates pathogens without the extended dwell times required by chemical disinfectants.

"We are excited and pleased that field studies in hospital settings continue to show efficacy of Filtered Far UV-C light used in a handheld format. We are hopeful studies such as this most recent one will lead to a widespread adoption of Filtered Far UV-C in any setting where transmission of pathogens is commonplace, " said Jennifer Rosen, cofounder of Freestyle Partners, LLC.

Shionogi & Co, Ltd

(Credit: Shionogi & Co, Ltd)

Shionogi & Co, Ltd unveiled groundbreaking findings at the 34th ESCMID Global, showcasing the efficacy of Fetroja/Fetcroja (cefiderocol) in critically ill patients with challenging carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative (GN) bacterial infections. The largest European real-world evidence study, PERSEUS, conducted a retrospective analysis to assess the effectiveness and safety of cefiderocol in adult patients. Results revealed an impressive overall clinical success rate of 84.3% and a 28-day all-cause mortality of 21.5%. Fetroja/Fetcroja (cefiderocol) represents an innovative siderophore cephalosporin, offering hope for patients facing difficult-to-treat bacterial infections.

“Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections pose significant health risks to patients, and managing these patients is complex," said Thomas Lodise, PharmD, PhD, associate professor at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, New York. "The PERSEUS data shows that cefiderocol may improve outcomes for critically ill patients with certain difficult-to-treat Gram-negative bacterial infections. The findings are especially notable given the high proportion of patients resistant to and/or failed other antibiotics. This real-world evidence, which reflects actual clinical experience, provides important insights into the management of these patients and may help guide clinical practice."

Ascendco

(Credit to Ascendco)

Crothall Healthcare and Ascendco Health have joined forces to create cutting-edge protocols and analytics, empowering sterile processing technicians to achieve exceptional results consistently. This collaboration aims to optimize efficiency and quality, prioritizing patient safety nationwide.

Infection Control Today® (ICT®) interviewed Afif Escheik, BA, CHL, CER, CIS, CRCST, CST, the regional director of operations at Crothall Healthcare , to learn more about the collaboration.

ICT: What specific challenges in sterile processing prompted Crothall Healthcare and Ascendco Health to form this partnership?

Afif Escheik, BA, CHL, CER, CIS, CRCST, CST: The partnership between Crothall Healthcare and Ascendco Health was forged to address a critical need within sterile processing departments (SPDs). While service providers possess the expertise to drive process improvement, they often lack the necessary technology and analytical tools to ensure these changes translate into measurable quality and outcomes. Ascendco recognized this gap and sought to provide the missing piece by offering its expertise in data analytics, empowering service providers like Crothall to achieve sustained, measurable results for their clients.

ICT: How does Ascendco's Sonar Tracking System enhance the efficiency and safety of sterile processing departments?

AE: Ascendco's Sonar Tracking System streamlines surgical asset management, enhancing efficiency and safety in sterile processing departments. By automating asset tracking and retrieval, Sonar ensures instruments are always available when needed, minimizing delays and errors in surgical procedures. The platform integrates systems across the organization, enabling greater automation, efficiency, and security. Sonar's actionable analytics empower teams to make data-driven decisions, optimizing workflows, reducing waste, and improving surgical quality. Additionally, Sonar facilitates workforce management by automating processes, allowing hospitals to maintain budgetary constraints and operational schedules. Overall, Sonar revolutionizes surgical asset management, improving efficiency, safety, and quality of care.

ICT: Can you elaborate on the expected impact of this partnership on patient safety and overall quality of surgical services?

AE: The partnership between Crothall Healthcare and Ascendco Health is poised to profoundly impact patient safety and the overall quality of surgical services. By leveraging Ascendco's innovative technology and Crothall's expertise in data-driven processes, the partnership aims to elevate sterile processing practices to new heights. With Ascendco's Sonar Tracking System providing visibility and transparency into SPD operations, Crothall can measure the impact of their services on departmental changes, driving safety and quality by ensuring adherence to best practices and professional standards. This collaboration will empower sterile processing professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to consistently deliver exceptional results, ultimately safeguarding patient well-being.

ICT: How do you envision the development of industry-leading protocols and analytics empowering sterile processing technicians to consistently deliver exceptional results?

AE: The partnership between Crothall Healthcare and Ascendco Health will lead to the development of industry-leading protocols and analytics designed to empower sterile processing technicians. By leveraging Ascendco's powerful data and analytics alongside Crothall's expertise and experience, objective key results can be quantified and reviewed for efficacy. This data-driven approach will enable sterile processing technicians to consistently deliver exceptional results by confirming progress in a measurable way, eliminating previous anecdotal and opinionated measurements of success. Ultimately, this collaboration will ensure that sterile processing departments across the country can operate at the peak of efficiency and quality, consistently delivering exceptional results and safeguarding patient well-being.