ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) is participating in a major World Health
Organization (WHO) initiative to reduce healthcare associated infections
(HAIs) by improving hand hygiene compliance rates in health care
facilities around the world. According to a recent WHO report, of every
100 hospitalized patients, at least seven in developed countries and 10
in developing countries will acquire an infection during their stay. In
intensive care units, the infection rate can be as high as 30 percent of
all patients. Poor hand hygiene is a major factor in the spread of
infection.
The WHO Private Organizations for Patient Safety platform, a
collaboration between the WHO and a consortium of 15 companies involved
in the development, manufacture or distribution of hand hygiene
products, will work to increase hand hygiene compliance in health care
facilities around the world through three key areas: research, education
and system change. The consortium will share information, align
promotional messaging for hand hygiene products with WHO
recommendations, and encourage product availability and accessibility in
all parts of the world.
A new WHO survey of more than 2,000 healthcare facilities in 69
countries found that only 65 percent of the facilities surveyed are
achieving a "good level of progress" with regards to hand hygiene
promotion, resources and activities. At least 35 percent of the
facilities surveyed are still at an inadequate or basic level of hand
hygiene compliance.
"Ecolab is committed to improving patient safety, and we welcome the
opportunity to partner with leading experts to reduce HAIs and help
ensure that hospitals are healthy places to heal," said Timothy Mulhere,
executive vice president and president, Global Healthcare, Ecolab. "Our
experienced field team will be able to share best practices and project
outcomes of the collaboration with our customers and also provide
regional feedback and suggestions to the global consortium."
Ecolab's Global Healthcare business offers a complete line of hand
hygiene products designed to meet the unique efficacy and skin care
needs of health care professionals, including soaps, sanitizers, lotions
and surgical scrubs.
About Ecolab
With 2011 pro forma sales of $11 billion and
more than 40,000 employees, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) is the global leader
in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that provide and
protect clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy
environments. Ecolab delivers comprehensive programs and services to the
food, energy, healthcare, industrial and hospitality markets in more
than 160 countries. For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.
(ECL-C)
Ecolab Inc.
Roman Blahoski, 651-293-4385
MediaRelations@Ecolab.com
Source: Ecolab Inc.
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