Ebiox Handrub passes EU tests

RNS Number:0571B
Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC
21 July 2004



Ebiox Handrub Successfully Completes EU Tests


Unique, EU compliant, Non-Alcohol Based Solution for Combating Hospital Acquired
Infections/MRSA

Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC ("HCEG") announces the conclusion of further
controlled tests carried out by the NHS Hospital Infection Research Laboratory
City Hospital, Birmingham on its Ebiox Handrub product.  These results show that
the Ebiox Handrub is compliant with EN1500, the EU standard for continental
Europe and the UK.

EN1500 is the standard by which the efficacy of non-water based products is
tested under practical conditions.  Ebiox Handrub exceeded the standards set by
EN1500 when tested against e-coli bacteria. The Handrub has previously passed
prEN12054 including efficacy against other bacteria including MRSA.  These
earlier tests demonstrated a 99.999% reduction in all test organisms within 30
seconds, significantly exceeding the one-minute test target.

HCEG believes that the Ebiox Handrub is the first non-alcohol based product that
is compliant with EU standards and has been developed to be better than alcohol
as a hand hygiene solution.  The Ebiox non-alcohol Handrub decontaminates hands
without drying or irritating the skin, and has been specifically designed to be
user-friendly to encourage more hand cleaning than the existing washing protocol
achieves.

The Department of Health has recognised that hand decontamination, before and
after patient contact, is 'vital' to the control of hospital-acquired 
infections*. It has also identified that cleaning and disinfecting protocols are 
key to 'reducing reservoirs of infection in hospitals'*.  Current hand hygiene 
protocols specify the use of alcohol-based products, but these can cause sore, 
dry hands.  As a result, hospital staff tend to be discouraged from adhering to 
hand hygiene protocols.  Statistics from the National Patient Safety Association 
show only a 40% compliance with hand hygiene protocols, with the dislike of 
using alcohol-based products being cited as one of the main reasons for this.
Furthermore some alcohol gels, which are formulated to reduce the drying effects
of alcohol, have been criticised for failing the EN1500 standard (Lancet, Volume
359).

The hand hygiene range at Ebiox will be marketed under the Esense brand by
leading distributor to the NHS, Vernon Carus.

Stuart Bruck, Chairman, Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC, commented:

"The EN 1500 test is significant because it proves that our Handrub is as
effective as alcohol, without the shortcomings of skin irritation associated
with alcohol based products.

"The Ebiox family of products are designed to improve hospital hygiene by
addressing the root of the hygiene problem, which is closely allied to working
practice.  By developing a Handrub that hospital staff are more likely to use
frequently, we have taken a step closer to tackling the problem of hospital
acquired infections and the MRSA epidemic.

"It is clear that current products have not succeeded in this respect and so we
are calling on the NHS to fast-track the adoption of this next generation
product."


                                                                  21 July 2004


* See the Department of Health document - Winning Ways: Working together to
reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England (www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/hai/
winningways.pdf)



Enquiries:

Healthcare Enterprise Group                                       020 7351 7500
   Stuart Bruck                  Executive Chairman
   Gordon Wood                   Group Chief Operating Officer

College Hill                                                      020 7457 2020
   Nicholas Nelson
   Corinna Dorward




Note to editors


Ebiox

Ebiox produces a range of patented cleansing, decontamination and disinfectant
products.  The range includes hand hygiene products, hard surface cleaners,
disinfectants and products to clean and decontaminate surgical instruments.

The antibacterial handwash and handrub, described above, are proven effective
against MRSA, E-coli and other important pathogens and are fully compliant with
EU standards.  Uniquely, the products do not use alcohol, which has a drying
effect and can be a skin irritant.

The hard surface cleaners, particularly the TrionicPlus trigger spray and
Azowipe Active wipes are based on a lifting and removing concept, completely
removing biofilms and cleaning to molecular level.  The product continues to be
active after use and cleans through oxidation action, not toxification which
means that there is no need to rotate disinfectants because there is no chance
of resistance developing (cf GMP guidelines).

Ebiox also offers a range of products for the effective cleaning of re-usable
instruments.  Critically, these products remove all debris prior to the
sterilisation process thereby ensuring complete decontamination.  They have
proven to be more effective than natural detergents and enzymatic detergents
currently available.

As well as the current range of products, Ebiox also has products for the
decontamination of dental aspiration lines and a veterinary product range,
EbioxVET.


Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC

HCEG is quoted on the UK AIM stock market with its head office in London and
subsidiary offices in Manchester, Liverpool, Cheshire, Germany and the USA.
HCEG is a business engaged in medical product distribution, occupational health,
first aid and medical consultancy markets.  These businesses underpin a range of
innovative medical devices, which will be introduced to the market via HCEG's
own distribution network on an international  basis.

HCEG owns 49% of the shares in Ebiox Ltd, a management contract for the business
and options to acquire up to 100% of Ebiox Ltd.



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