Public Health England tackle disease threats

RNS Number : 1830C

Tristel PLC

13 March 2014

 



TRISTEL plc

("Tristel", "Group" or the "Company")

Public Health England calls on NHS Trust CEOs to tackle serious infection disease threats

Tristel plc (AIM: TSTL), the manufacturer of infection prevention, contamination control and hygiene products, welcomes the circular published by Public Health England, which has been bought to the attention of all NHS Trust Chief Executive Officers, regarding the growing concern within UK hospitals with multi-drug resistant organisms. In its circular regarding this threat the Director for Health Protection points out that "carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are one of the most serious emerging infectious disease threats that we currently face."

Tristel's surface disinfectants products are being increasingly adopted by NHS Trusts because of their broad spectrum biocidal efficacy including their proven ability to kill multi-drug resistant bacteria.  Infections caused by these bacteria are extremely difficult to treat as they are resistant to carbapenems, which are considered "last resort" antibiotics. The Company estimates that 41 NHS Trusts are using Tristel surface disinfectant products amongst their housekeeping teams (28% of the 190 acute Trusts in the country) and 37 NHS Trusts (24%) are using Tristel surface disinfectants in their nursing teams. Tristel surface disinfectant products accounted for £0.7m of Group sales of £6.4m in the first half of the current financial year. Management expects these products to make a growing contribution to Group sales as more NHS Trusts adopt Tristel surface products.

Similar concerns are emerging in other countries where Tristel has a well-established presence.  Commencing in October 2013, Hong Kong hospitals have experienced outbreaks of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and in response six of the seven clusters into which that Hong Kong's 42 public hospitals are organised and managed by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority have adopted Tristel surface disinfectants to combat the crisis.  Sales of all Tristel products to the Hong Kong market totalled £0.132m in the six months to 31 December, an increase of 65% over the corresponding period in the previous financial year.  

Paul Swinney, Chief Executive Officer, comments: "We welcome this news as our lead technology, a proprietary chlorine dioxide formulation, is far superior to surface disinfectants that are commonly used in the NHS such as bleach and chlorine tablets and therefore offers a more attractive solution to NHS cleaning teams."

Tristel plc	www.tristel.com
Paul Swinney, Chief Executive	Tel: [phone]
Liz Dixon, Finance Director
finnCap
Geoff Nash / Charlotte Stranner, Corporate Finance	Tel: [phone]
Simon Starr, Corporate Broking
Walbrook PR Ltd	Tel: [phone] or [e-mail]
Paul McManus	Mob: [phone]
Lianne Cawthorne	Mob: [phone]

 

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