Day 18: And now a word from our sponsor...

Thursday, September 27, 2007 - Wow... we use a lot of Cal Stat Plus Anitiseptic Handrub here at 1816 Ellison. The manufacturer says that it is a "63% v/v isopropyl alcohol-based handrub with enhanced emollients. It is designed to effectively decontaminate the visibly clean hands of healthcare workers and visitors before and after patient contact, and after contact with inanimate objects. The patented formulation kills more than 99.999% of tested transient organisms in 15 seconds while moisturizing hands."

Everyone uses it in the vestibule of Mady's room before they come in. She's a Neutropenic (immunosuppressed) patient, so she has a private room with a vestibule and positive air pressure. The positive pressure keeps air flowing from the patient room to the corridor--no nasty airborne things get in. By the way, for patients who are infectious (not Mady) the nurses can flip a switch in the vestibule and make the room have negative air pressure--then nothing gets out. Mady checks the switch whenever she passes through the vestibule.

I know that many of you are asking: Is Cal Stat Plus better than Purell? (a bottle of which I have on my desk at work) The answer is yes and no. At 99.999%, Cal Stat Plus kills more germs than Purell, which boasts only 99.99% effectiveness. Also, Purell contains only 62% alcohol--a full percent less than Cal Stat Plus. Cal Stat Plus's big negative is its obnoxiously cloying baby powder scent, while Purell smells like a refreshing summer drink with a twist of lime... Bottom line, they're both effective, but only if you remember to use them--and use enough so that your hands are still wet after 15 seconds of rubbing.

Did you Cal Stat your hands?