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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BioDermaCare (Advanced Hand Sanitizing and Compliance System for the Healthcare Sector)

Teaser

Summary

EU INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIETAL PROBLEMS:
Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) have become an epidemic among hospitals around the globe that cost an average of â‚¬6,000 to â‚¬12,000 per incidence. Monetary consequences in the EU are reported to be close to â‚¬7 billion (bn) a year in direct costs, including 16 million extra days of hospitalization. One of the first line of defences is hand hygiene compliance, yet hospitals struggle to keep high compliance rates, with average of only 38% among Healthcare Workers (HCW). The rise in antimicrobial resistance by dangerous bacteriaâ€™s (e.g. MRSA) are pushing hospitals to implement new technologies beyond Direct Observations (DO) to control compliance with hand hygiene moments. DO is a bias processed, that is resource intensive and expensive.
However, there currently are no technologies that can provide a solution that is tailored to the needs of HCWs and their dynamic and intense workload. Typically, HCW attend to 10-12 patients an hour, which means they hardly have time to stop and hand rub for 30 seconds. Whilst DO can assess whether someone has indeed used a hand hygiene dispenser, direct observers are not properly following up on hand hygiene technique to hand rub and cover specific areas of the hand, which is equally as important as complying with a hand hygiene event. Proper hand hygiene technique is averaging 66% among HCW, which leaves them vulnerable to contracting and passing infectious disease, and, what is even worse, with a false sense of security concerning the hand hygiene.
OUR SOLUTION:
he Resani Automatic Hand Sanitizer (AHS), is a game-changing hand hygiene solution that disinfects both hands simultaneously in 3 seconds spraying a fine mist of disinfectant covering 100% of the hands contact areas. A battery powered hand hygiene dispenser with 2 strategically positioned nozzles that spray a gentle mist of disinfectant on the hands of the HCW, leaving them with minimum responsibility to hand rub afterwards, decreasing the overall process of hand hygiene from 30 to less than 10 seconds. A beyond state-of-the art based compliance and monitoring system will keep record of each individual HCW compliance through a sophisticated and user-friendly badging system, that gently nudges the HCW to engage with a hand hygiene event. The AHS will automatically relay the hand hygiene events for each HCW through the cloud, for an overall assessment of compliance by the hospital manager. Through the positive reinforcement from nudging elements combined with seamless oversight provided by the Resani software, we estimate an increase of 15-20% in compliance of hand hygiene protocols by HCW. The Resani software will provide hospital managers with key insight as to overall and individual compliance levels. It will also provide them with actionable intelligence to assess the use of each hand hygiene dispenser and optimize their positioning for maximum exposure and use by HCW, patients and visitors.

Work performed

Our key objective for this Phase 1 Feasibility Study was to verify the technical, practical and economic viability of our disruptive AHS solution. We wanted to prove that our solution is superior to current market offerings (under real-life settings) in terms of operational performance, cost savings and increased compliance rates. Therefore, we have conducted the following activities:
1. We conducted a series of tests of the operational prototype in the ADIGO AS offices under the observation and supervision of relevant stakeholders to assess technical requirements of the commercial version.
2. We conducted a survey with Sunnaas hospital in Oslo assessing the requirements and needs of hospital HCWâ€™s in their day-to-day activities, as well as hospital management requirements pursuant implementing hand-sanitizing protocols;
3. We have contacted relevant stakeholders to fill out the missing expertise in the Resani value chain, that will allow us to deliver the market-ready version of the AHS;
4. We have established the requirements (i.e. regulation compliance, certifications, licenses, equipment, personnel) for undertaking large-scale piloting under real operating conditions and formulated how the demonstrations will be implemented in the envisaged Phase 2 project.
With the goal of confirming the AHS solution commercial viability and finding early adopters, we met with a several distributors of hospital equipment and medical devices (i.e. Laerdal, Dan Dryer, Cannon, Urimat, Steripower, BarrierTech) and a hospital within the region (i.e. Sunnaas Hospital). During these meetings we introduced them the superior performance of the AHS and the impact it can have in their day-to-day activities.

Final results

During our Feasibility Study we decided to take the approach of examining in depth the HCW behaviour in order to provide solution that adapts to the HCW dynamics without completely distorting their workflow. We realized that hand hygiene compliance is a matter of efficiency in the workflow. Our study revealed that HCW are aware of the risk of poor hand hygiene or non-compliance with hand hygiene protocols. The main problem is that they lack the appropriate tools that can cope with their needs â€“ highly dynamic workflow serving 10-12 patients an hour, occupational hand eczema, improper hand hygiene technique. The AHS is the answer to these needs.
Technology-based sanitizing approach
Our technology-based sanitizing approach, using a fine mist of disinfectant to spray both hands, adapts to the requirements of HCW, by providing 100% coverage of the contact areas (palm, back-hand, in between fingers, wrist) requiring only minimum involvement from the HCW in the process. The AHS dispenser will quickly scan the HCW hands before starting the spraying process, requiring the HCW to remove all foreign objects (rings, watches, bracelets) before starting the spray. HCW might not always remember to remove rings and bracelets â€“ hands with rings are 2.3 more time likely to be contaminated after use of alcohol-based hand rub â€“ therefore the AHS reminds it for them.
Visibility cues and positioning
Our Feasibility Study also revealed that one of the biggest deterrents to the use of hand hygiene dispenser, is related to HCW, patients and visitors not seeing where dispensers are located. An individual study conducted by SCA revealed that making smart use of hand hygiene dispenser location is more important than actually having many of them. The AHS works with a two-pronged approach to vastly improved hand hygiene works through both attraction and monitoring. The AHS dispenser is embedded with light and sound cues to attract HCW in specific areas. The badges will recognize the AHS within a proximity of 2 meters, triggering the light, sound and vibration cues to encourage the hand hygiene event. The data on usability of each AHS dispenser â€“ seamlessly transferred through the Resani software â€“ will act as a proxy for locations with higher frequency of use, thus leading to better positioning of the devices for maximum efficiency.
We will evaluate with our patent attorneys the possibility to patent Resaniâ€™s unique sanitizing approach â€“ spraying a mist of disinfectant inside the sanitizing chamber for 100% coverage â€“ thus setting the ground for our IP strategy.