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Saturday, 22 April 2006 09:31

BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk

Handwash kills MRSA and bird flu

The bird flu virus can be killed with a £2.99 hand cleanser that is available on the High Street, scientists claim.

Tests have shown that No-Germs which is made in the UK by Advanced Formulations can eradicate 99.8 per cent of the H5N1 strain in around 30 seconds.

The pump-pack spray has been on sale in pharmacies, supermarkets and convenience stores for over a year.

Because it is used without water, there is no need for rinsing. And unlike similar products it is alcohol free, which is thought to make it more effective.

Originally No-Germs was developed to fight MRSA infection, one of the most prevalent superbugs in the Health Service.

Experts now believe it can help stop bird flu spreading, and reduce the likelihood of the virus mutating.

The tests at Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry in London indicated that No-Germs significantly cuts the risk of 'indirect transmission'.

This happens when a virus is picked up from a surface such as a railing or door handle and transferred to the face.

Around 80 per cent of all common viral and bacterial infections are spread in this way, by hand-to-mouth and nose-to-eye contact. On average, people touch their faces every five minutes.

Dr Robert Lambkin, the managing director of Retroscreen said other routes of transmission, by coughing or sneezing, remain significant in the fight against bird flu.

"But much of the problem can be contained by making sure that we don't get infected through contact with surfaces such as door handles," he added.

At present, H5N1 can only be caught through direct contact with infected birds.

But Dr Lambkin said: "If the virus did cross the species barrier, healthcare workers, research scientists and the general public would benefit from a hand wash against the H5N1 virus to prevent indirect transmission of the virus”.

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