Sprixx Introduces New Wearable Hand Sanitizer

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Sprixx announces the introduction of its new wearable, patented product line of personal hand sanitizers. Clipped to belt or clothes, the dispensing systems operate with one hand to make it possible for busy professionals to sanitize hands anytime and anywhere. Unlike wall-mounted dispensers, Sprixx was designed to become second nature by removing the extra time, trouble, and thought required for hand sanitation. This allows workers to stay in their workflow, save precious time, and maintain 100 percent hand hygiene compliance that was otherwise impossible.

The product rollout is being featured at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) 2003 Educational Conference and International Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 8-12, 2003.

There are three wearable hand sanitizer models in the Sprixx line. The Sprixxer XE looks like a beeper, comes in five colors, and takes an economical replacement cartridge. The Sprixx HP is a holster with a 2.36 fl. oz. spray bottle that is best for heavier use. The light, unobtrusive Sprixx LT is a half-ounce spray bottle with a convenient, reusable clip. The alcohol sanitizer is formulated for repeated professional use, has a light scent, uses the proven germ-killing power of 63 percent ethyl alcohol, and includes protective emollients.

Invented by Ventura, Calif. physician James Villaveces, MD, Sprixx has been in development for two years.

"Healthcare and other professionals need better hand hygiene tools," says Dr. Villaveces. "Before now, achieving 100 percent hand hygiene while meeting the real-world demands on today's healthcare workers was impossible. With Sprixx, hands will no longer be a part of the deadly chain of infection."

Wearable dispensing is the next logical breakthrough in hand sanitation. In the newly updated guidelines for hand hygiene in healthcare settings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends alcohol-based hand rubs as the primary hand hygiene agent for the sake of time, hand health and effectiveness. The CDC guidelines go on to recommend making alcohol sanitizers "readily accessible" and carrying individual pocket-sized containers. Wearable, personal dispensing achieves the CDC's goal for accessibility.

"It has to always be within reach, super easy to use, and become second nature," explains Denise Bleak, infection control disease coordinator at Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC). "Sprixx is a healthcare worker's friend because it makes 100 percent hand hygiene possible and frees the workers' time and focus for other things." Bleak and VCMC have been field-testing the Sprixx dispensers for more than a year.

According to the CDC, nosocomial infections are the fourth leading cause of death -- claiming 104,000 lives annually -- and hand hygiene is the No. 1 line of defense. Twenty thousand deaths annually are specifically attributed to hand-transmitted infection in hospitals alone. That is more than HIV claims each year. "Hand hygiene must evolve," explains Villaveces. "A wearable dispenser is a breakthrough in a 150-year old struggle."

The medical industry is the first rollout and target market for the Sprixx product line. Other markets will be addressed, including long-term care, childcare, emergency response, foodservice, airlines, travel, and other industries.

Source: Sprixx