[Sponsored] Ruhof is Revolutionizing Surgical Instrument Cleaning

Sponsored by Ruhof.

 

In 1976, Frank Bass and Bernard Esquenet teamed up to create The Ruhof Corporation. Frank Bass’s role in the company is one of sales, marketing and research while Bernard Esquenet is the chemist behind Ruhof’s success. 

Prior to the launch of Ruhof, Frank recognized the need for hospitals to use more than simple dishwashing detergent in cleaning surgical instruments. Bernard had created cleaning solutions for the Navy, which were used to clean barnacles and other crustaceous marine residues from the heat ex- changers and water evaporators of submarines and other naval vessels. When Frank Bass approached him to develop cleaning solutions for hospital instruments, Esquenet realized that the enzymes he was using to eat away at the marine organism residues would also dissolve proteins off surgical instruments. Thus, Protozyme, the very first enzymatic cleaner for surgical instrumentation was born along with Surgistain, a product for refurbishing corroded stainless steel instruments.

Since then, Ruhof has dedicated itself to the research, development and manufacturing of state-of-the-art products to ensure the complete cleaning and reprocessing of all surgical instruments and scopes.

Addressing the ever-increasing concern of cross contamination in hospitals, Ruhof’s research and development department revolutionized the cleaning industry with our multi-tiered enzymatic detergents and sponges, cleaning brushes, pre-treatment foams/sprays, cleaning verification products and more.  

Additionally, the comprehensive ScopeValet line of endoscopy products supports the steps of the scope reprocessing cycle from bedside cleaning through to transport and storage. These GI offerings help endoscopy suites improve operating efficiencies while adhering to guidelines and protecting patients and staff alike.

Q: What are some advantages that your company has over the competition?

A: Ruhof Healthcare sells the only enzymatic detergent on the market (ENDOZIME BIO-CLEAN) clinically tested to pass the difficult ISO standard 15883 Annex F by dissolving biofilm and exposing underlying bacteria to high-level disinfectants or liquid chemical sterilants. Our products are of the highest quality available, and we offer the most complete line of surgical instrument cleaning, scope cleaning, and reprocessing supplies in the marketplace. In addition, the company is innovative, continually developing new products and technologies that clean, protect, comply, and verify to meet the needs of our customers.

Q. How have you been able to help with recent challenges faced by your customers?

A: Recent reports to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) of processing errors with flexible endoscopes have brought much attention to the importance of this issue. In general, while flexible endoscopes are inherently difficult to clean effectively due to their long narrow lumens and because they are used in highly contaminated areas of the body, the manual component of endoscope reprocessing appears to be the area most prone to error. As a result, revised guidelines from both the CDC and the AORN recommend the used of cleaning verification tests such as ATP bioluminescence, which has been shown to be both a rapid and effective method for assessing the efficacy of the cleaning process. Ruhof’s ATP Monitoring System, newly named the CleanRead Contamination Monitoring System is a quick, simple, and reliable method for verifying the effectiveness of the cleaning and decontamination process for the outer surfaces and internal channels of scopes and cannulated instruments along with all non-critical facility surfaces. The CleanRead Contamination Monitoring System consists of a lightweight hand-held device, sampling tools – the CleanRead Surface ATP Detection Swab and Test InstruSponge – and easy to use software for tracking results. The system can also be used to test the efficacy of the cleaning process for the especially complex duodenoscope, an endoscope associated with outbreaks of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections.

Q: Can you explain your company’s core competencies and unique selling points?

A: We are the only supplier of enzymatic detergents that manufactures its own product, guaranteeing consistency and quality. Ruhof is a registered ISO 14001 & ISO 13485 manufacturer, and we pride ourselves on the superior products we manufacture.

Q: What product or service that your company offers are you most excited about right now?

A: We’re excited to introduce a fresh brand identity for the ATP Complete 2 Contamination Monitoring System – now the CleanRead Contamination Monitoring System.  This rebranding reflects our commitment to expanding beyond ATP testing to include protein testing and more. While users will continue to experience the same high-performing product, this change paves the way for future innovations. Our evolving product line includes the CleanRead ATP Test Swab, CleanRead Aqua ATP Detection Swab, and the CleanRead PRT Surface Protein Swab, with even more advancements on the horizon.

Q: Can you share some company success stories with our readers?

A: Ruhof often receives positive feedback from customers regarding cost savings. Perioperative and sterile processing professionals regularly tell us that they get better results and more cleaning efficacy using much less of our detergent than other brands. In addition, we receive many reports about product effectiveness. Recently a nurse contacted us about how Ruhof really “saved the day” for her. All other detergents failed to remove an unusual yellow/orange oily deposit from the scopes she was cleaning but our Endozime SLR enzymatic cleaner – which specializes in removing synthetic lipid residue – did the trick and she has been a loyal customer since.

Q: Can you highlight any future product plans?

A: While still in development Ruhof is working on a breakthrough delivery system for Point-Of-Use Cleaning:  A Portable Automatic Sprayer. The Sprayer quickly and easily applies Prepzyme Forever Wet – our multi-layered enzymatic humectant – over surgical instruments and scopes, prior to manual cleaning, to prevent the adhesion of bioburden. This automatic delivery system eliminates hard to use trigger sprayers and can cover an entire tray of instruments in half the time! Stay tuned for the arrival of this exciting product!

Q: How does Ruhof support customers?

A: Ruhof has a most knowledgeable and responsive customer service department and sales team ready to help our customers with questions, orders, troubleshooting, etc. Our user-friendly website and informative technical data sheets/IFUs also provide support. We offer a program of free accredited continuing education for nurses and CS/SPD techs, as we understand that ongoing education, training and mentoring are critical to the success of any clinical department. These CE opportunities are offered at national and local trade shows, as well as right on our website www.ruhof.com/pages/education.

Q: What is your company’s mission statement?

A: At Ruhof, we understand the importance of cleanliness in the healthcare field and are guided by our commitment to excellence. We demonstrate this by offering reliable solutions and individualized service to help health care facilities meet and exceed their decontamination and infection prevention challenges. We are always finding new solutions and new ways to help fight HAIs and to provide a safe work environment for patients and staff. We value our customers as much as the patients that they care for. 

For more information, visit ruhof.com.