Tristel Regulatory News (TSTL)

TRISTEL plc

("Tristel", "Group" or the "Company")

Success in controlling Clostridium difficile infection rates

Tristel plc (AIM: TSTL), the manufacturer of infection prevention, contamination control and hygiene products, receives recognition for its role in tackling Clostridium difficile ("C.diff") and Norovirus infections at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust ("UHCW" or the "Trust").

The April 2014 edition of the Infection Control magazine published today features an article describing the outstanding success of UHCW in tackling the incidence of C. diff infections. 

In January 2013, the Trust was nearing its allowed limit for cases of C. diff. The issue was highlighted in the Trust's annual report for 2012-13 as a "red" area for underperformance. The Trust's Infection Prevention and Control team responded with an innovative campaign which focussed upon hand washing, prompt isolation of infected patients, prudent antibiotic prescribing and effective environmental cleaning. To achieve the latter, the Trust deployed Tristel's Jet trigger spray gel for areas close to the patient and Tristel Fuse for larger surface areas. Both products are rapidly effective against bacteria, fungi, viruses, mycobacteria and crucially spores. 

As a result of the campaign every ward in the Trust has been C. diff free for a period of at least 100 days, 95% of all wards have been C. diff free for 200 days and 14 wards have achieved a year clear. The Trust's Infection Prevention team has received the accolade of national hospital team of the year from the UK Infection Prevention Society. 

The article will be available on Tristel's website, under the news section in due course.

Paul Swinney, Chief Executive Officer, comments: "The number of hospitals that have adopted our chlorine dioxide surface disinfectants to kill C. diff, Norovirus and the multi-drug resistant bacteria which are now grabbing the headlines has grown steadily in the past few years. In the hospital marketplace it can take years for novel technology to prove itself and for its impact to be felt, especially when it comes to infection control. The UHCW achievement is testimony to how effective our surface disinfectants are. Surface disinfection is now a key driver behind our sales growth in the UK."