Dentist Danny de Villiers, known affectionately as 'Danny the dentist', is using his 30 years of experience in infection control to help care homes in Surrey fight the spread of harmful viruses and bacteria.
de Villiers from Weybridge has launched the county franchise for Sanondaf, a disinfection system that can stop the spread of cold and flu, Norovirus, E-coli and MRSA, as well as 99.9 per cent of other bacteria, viruses, fungi and mould.
“My background gives me an excellent understanding of the importance of infection control,” says de Villiers. “Care home residents are a particularly vulnerable group so stopping outbreaks before they start is vital, especially given the rise in resistance to antibiotics.”
Sanondaf, which is not harmful to humans, animals or plants, is a ‘touch-less’ disinfection system that allows surfaces to be sprayed and left. The system can spray the hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) into a room to create a dry ‘fog’ or it can be used as an electrostatic solution that clings to surfaces, making it effective for hard-to-reach areas.
Dr. de Villiers, who is a member of the Infection Prevention Society, launched Sanondaf to help homes in Surrey meet outcome eight of the CQC code of compliance.
Voyage Care, which provides healthcare, social care and support to a range of vulnerable people, is one of Danny de Villiers’ clients.
“We have used the Sanondaf disinfection system in two of our services and we have been very pleased with the results,” says David Green, managing director for the South Region. “Infection control and hygiene are an absolute priority for us and this system is quick and effective.”
In a recent study carried out by NHS Dumfries and Galloway, an HPV system was found to be twice as effective at reducing virus growth after a minor outbreak of Norovirus than traditional detergent and chlorine cleaning. It was particularly effective in hard-to-reach areas such as underneath bed frames and on curtain rails.
“Homes do their utmost to stop the spread of infection,” said Danny, “but bacteria can be passed on in staff rest areas, on hand-held devices for medicine management and communal areas in homes like their bistros and coffee shops.
“HPV technology is achieving levels of cleanliness that traditional cleaning methods alone can’t. Residents are vulnerable but given the sector’s current challenges, staff sickness can represent a significant cost and inconvenience to providers. Areas of a home can be cleaned and back in use in as little as 30 minutes so the operational impact is very low, too.”
