CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Second paragraph, second sentence of release dated January 20 should read: Research conducted in Wuhan, China, published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, confirmed that transmission through surfaces, including the floors of intensive care units, was a major factor in spreading the coronavirus in Wuhan hospitals.2 (instead of A report issued by the Centers for Disease Control confirmed that transmission through surfaces, including the floors of intensive care units, was a major factor in spreading the coronavirus in Wuhan, China.2)
The updated release reads:
CHARLOTTE-BASED COLLIER’S SIGNS DEAL WITH HEALTHYSOLE TO COMPLETE COMPREHENSIVE UVC INFECTION CONTROL PRODUCT LINE
Units proven to kill coronavirus on shoe soles to reduce spread in healthcare and other facilities
Collier’s Medical Equipment, one of the Carolinas’ leading distributors of technologically advanced medical equipment, announced a new agreement to offer HealthySole ultraviolet C (UVC) light units to enhance infection control and minimize contamination spread in clean work environments.
New studies show that one way disease, including the coronavirus, spreads in healthcare and other facilities is through foot traffic from room to room.1 Research conducted in Wuhan, China, published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, confirmed that transmission through surfaces, including the floors of intensive care units, was a major factor in spreading the coronavirus in Wuhan hospitals.2
However, rapid decontamination of the shoe sole has been shown to decrease pathogen colonies in the patient care environment3 and as part of an infection prevention protocol may help minimize patient-to-patient transmission of infectious disease.
HealthySole units, which use ozone-free UVC light technology, are clinically proven to kill over 99.7 percent of coronavirus and other pathogens on the soles of footwear in just eight seconds. Healthcare providers and other facilities nationwide are adopting the units as part of comprehensive overhauls in infection control programs based on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collier’s Anticipates Strong Growth in 2021
“The challenges in cost-effectively managing the spread of COVID-19 and drug-resistant pathogens and protecting the health and safety of employees and patients have never been more pronounced,” said Brian Krass, Collier’s President and CEO. “This agreement completes our UVC portfolio, which includes hand-held, robotics and whole-room applications.”
“We are projecting approximately 20% sales growth in 2021, as we anticipate care providers will return to a more typical purchase cycle,” Krass said. “Among the growth areas we have seen are demand for patient beds, which has nearly doubled, and UV light solutions, which has nearly quadrupled year-over-year.”
New Support for Healthcare Facilities
The CARES Act relief bills passed by Congress include coverage for adding prevention-based protocols, such as HealthySole and other devices, said Krass. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical, but alone, it is not sufficient to provide needed protection for front-line workers in reducing risk of infection.
“Studies have shown that a care worker can aerosolize, or create a fine particle cloud, up to four-and-a-half feet high just with natural movement in the patient care environment,” said Nelson Patterson, CEO, HealthySole. “These particles then land on hard surfaces, and even on patient skin, becoming a potential infection source. Minimizing the threat of recontamination of infectious pathogens makes sense given the increased virility now seen in new mutations of COVID-19.”
Speed is crucial for care personnel, especially in ICU or emergency room settings, and with HealthySole, staff can sanitize their shoes in just eight seconds, Patterson added. Knowing that UVC is chemical-free and an effective germicidal, frontline workers who are battling the pandemic want it safely applied everywhere to help them feel safer and make their lives easier.
About Collier’s Medical Equipment
Founded in Charlotte in 1965, Collier’s is one of the Carolinas’ leading turnkey providers of high quality, technologically advanced medical equipment, training, and technical support to the acute healthcare and life sciences industries. It serves clients ranging from start-ups to nearly every major healthcare system in North and South Carolina. Learn more at colliersmedical.com.
About HealthySole
HealthySole provides the first published, third party clinically tested method of using UVC light to address and decontaminate shoes, a potent vector of germ transmission, including COVID-19, in hospital and other commercial settings, as well as homes. Learn more at healthysole.com.
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- Roberts, K., Smith, C.F., Snelling, A.M. et al. Aerial Dissemination of Clostridium difficile spores. BMC Infect Dis 8, 7 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-8-7
- https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0885_article
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Rashid T, et al., Evaluation of a shoe sole UVC device to reduce pathogen colonization on floors, surfaces and patients, Journal of Hospital Infection (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2017.10.011
