By Barbara R. Fallon
Take decades of finance, business strategy and experiential insight, add an entrepreneurial spirit with an eye on clean environmental practices then mix with an inquisitive, personal look at health care delivery and you have a recipe for a cost effective, innovative long-term protection against the spread of bacteria, fungus and mold.
The KLEAN Company, co-founded by CEO Gary Wilkinson three years before the pandemic hit, delivers a unique protective defense against the spread of bacteria, fungus and spores on surfaces for 90 days, tested in a live hospital which has since been a customer for three years. The solution is a chemical-free, non-toxic, water-based molecule which creates an active barrier that kills bacteria, fungus and mold on contact for an extended period of time.
KLEAN entered the health care market with a focus on the health and financial risks of hospital acquired infections (HAI) and the dangers of mold, mildew and other surface and airborne contaminants in a hospital environment. KLEAN is now expanding its healthcare practice into the South Florida market. In addition to hospitals, KLEAN has treated nursing homes, educational and business facilities, aviation, commercial and residential properties. Currently KLEAN is considering helping the cannabis market minimize the risk of fungus ruining product.
In 2015 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 1 in 25 hospitalized patients developed a Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI). Annually, during hospitalization these HAIs led to 90,000 deaths, an average of 14 people per hospital per year. The CDC further estimates that HAIs create a direct economic burden of $35.7 billion annually, averaging an annual loss of revenue per hospital of $5.8M. Unlike typical disinfectants, KLEAN’s surface protection can help reduce hospital HAIs, improving the CDC numbers above, Wilkinson noted.
KLEAN delivers transformative long-term protection against the spread of bacteria, fungi, mold and mildew, by creating an anti-microbial protected surface that continues to kill for at least 90 days. The sanitizer/disinfectant is hospital grade, registered on the EPA List N approved for COVID-19, meaning it can safely attack COVID upon contact.
Studies conclude the average adult touches thirty objects a minute and touches their face 16 x per hour. In high traffic areas, doorknobs, faucets, furniture, etc. can harbor germs which create a breeding ground for bacteria and infections. Additionally, in hospitals there are bed rails, exam tables, equipment, seats, tables and heat and air-conditioning units that can spread germs to vulnerable patients and to staff. Typical disinfectants stop working once dry. In contrast, the KLEAN solution creates an active barrier for 90 days and improves air quality as a strong electrical field attracts the negatively charged bacteria or spore to the surface for elimination. KLEAN also offers a hand product (no alcohol) that reduces bacteria for 24 hours after application.
How KLEAN Works
A technical description of how the product works follows: KLEAN products consist of a molecule that creates a microbial surface with barbs and a strong electrical field. When bacteria, fungus or a spore encounters this microbial surface, the barbs puncture the cell wall and the electrical field tears the cell apart, rendering it harmless by killing it. This unique durable nano-coating provides lasting antimicrobial protection for up to 90 days and is suitable for use on porous and non-porous surfaces.
Wilkinson describes the attack in simple visual terms. “Spray your hand with fingers extended upwards. Think of your fingers as swords. The applied solution has a carbon base which serves as a magnet for bacteria spores which impale on the swords breaking up cells to stop their spread,” he explained.
Hospital Tested
Wilkinson, who earned his MBA from Boston’s Northeastern University, noted that the KLEAN company wanted scientific, data-driven evidence of the product and application technique effectiveness to provide proof to clinicians and administrators. Therefore, KLEAN products were tested in a live hospital using a 3rd party microbiologist.
“Before the KLEAN application, only 32% of the sites were found to be free of specific microorganisms. Sixty days after the KLEAN application, 87% of the sites were found to be free of microorganisms resulting in a higher than 80% total reduction in microorganisms which can infect a patient,” Wilkinson said.
This test hospital has now received eleven quarterly treatments reporting a significant decrease in the number of flu and norovirus cases according to quality and safety reports. It has expanded use throughout the hospital network including nursing homes, clinics and day-care centers.
Based on application cost/square foot vs. the CDC estimated costs in lives and dollars, this equates to a very good return on investment, hospital officials assert.
KLEAN’s suite of products meet FDA standards as safe to use on food-contact surfaces. KLEAN’s affordable surface protectant is a chemical-free, non-toxic, non-flammable, non-leaching, odorless, colorless, alcohol-free, water-based solution.
Mold Remediation and Prevention
Additionally, over the last few decades, facilities have aimed to become airtight to reduce HVAC costs and protection against weather disasters including floods and hurricanes. In doing so, they are potentially trapping mold, mildew, fungi, algae, and bacteria, including Staph and MRSA. Mold and fungus can be found anywhere there is heat and moisture. The existence of mold and fungus can pose serious health risks, mostly respiratory, to those exposed. KLEAN products can significantly minimize that risk either in remedial or protective prevention applications.
Certified Professionals
Headquartered in Texas, KLEAN’s mobile teams of certified technicians travel nationwide to apply the KLEAN products on an annual to quarterly basis dependent on the facility needs. The certified teams are trained on the practices and protocols that support a higher level of cleanliness as specified by CDC and work with the hospital’s environmental services crews and apply the product via customized application strategies including foggers, electrostatic sprayers and drones, which can be used individually or in combination depending on facility. Recently, even cannabis growers have noticed loss of crop due to toxic mold and fungus and KLEAN’s products claim to minimize that loss.
“Beyond patient health safety and hospital financial savings, the benefits of a safer, healthy environment include reduced absenteeism and increased staff retention and talent recruitment as a hospital’s reputation for leadership in bacterial protection circulates in the community,” Wilkinson said.
For additional information, visit www.theKLEANcompany.com or call (936) 994-7016.
