Dade Linen & Supply, Inc. spear-heads drive against MRSA as distributor of Bac-Shield antimicrobial

Miami, FL, October 25, 2007 – As if AIDS, SARS and the Norovirus weren’t enough to contend with, public health officials now have another highly-publicized biological challenge on their hands.

Dubbed MRSA (short for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), this variation of a common bacterium has evolved into a formidable “superbug” with an immunity to antibiotics, including penicillin and methicillin, and which claims nearly 19,000 lives every year in the United States.

Fortunately, however, the control and prevention of MRSA has gotten a significant boost with the development of Bac-Shield™, an antimicrobial product that prevents the growth of bacteria. Dade Linen & Supply, Inc., a leading distributor of hospitality linen in Florida, and Authorized Distributor for Bac-Shield™, is committed to eradicating the infectious agent where it breeds.
Discovered in 1961 in the United Kingdom, MRSA is now a worldwide health problem. The organism is often found in hospitals, preying on patients with open wounds and weakened immune systems, but it is also prevalent in schools, prisons and hospitality facilities. MRSA is so insidious that it can survive on surfaces and fabrics, including privacy curtains or garments worn by care providers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MRSA is responsible for 94,000 serious infections per year in the U.S. alone. Of those, an alarming one in five results in death. These sobering statistics underscore the importance of Bac-Shield™ and its use as part of a comprehensive hygiene program.
Engineered as a concentrate by Chem-Tex Laboratories, Inc. and registered with the EPA in 2003, Bac-Shield™ prevents the growth of bacteria (as well as mold and mildew) such as those identified in MRSA. Bac-Shield™’s active ingredient is chitosan, which is made from snow crab shells, an abundant and replenishable resource with natural antimicrobial properties, but is also hypo-allergenic. Used in addition to appropriate procedures for cleaning and disinfecting, Bac-Shield™ creates a hostile environment for microbes on treated materials and surfaces while they are being used.

According to David Hannon, president of Dade Linen, Bac-Shield™ has been shown to be effective in a wide variety of applications: “We use it in hotels, motels and on cruise ships. It is also used on synthetic playing surfaces in schools and gymnasiums, and on practice gear, towels and in locker rooms. We even sell it to professional football teams.”

Other applications of Bac-Shield™ include undergarments, carpeting and even convertible jeep tops. Chem-Tex is also conducting field trials on various building surfaces including vinyl siding, wood siding, and stucco, as well as on synthetic putting greens, concrete, upholstery and canvas awnings.
“Stopping the spread of MRSA has become a major national health priority,” says Hannon. “I’m proud that Dade Linen is taking an active role in this life-saving effort by helping to make Bac-Shield widely available.”
To learn more about Bac-Shield™ and its effective treatment in the prevention of MRSA, contact Dade Linen & Supply, Inc. at (305) 621-0600 or mail@dadelinen.com.

About Dade Linen, Inc
Located in Davie, Florida, Dade Linen & Supply is a leading distributor of hospitality linen, natural ”green” cleaning products and guest amenities in South Florida and the Caribbean, and has provided its customers with a vast array of product to enhance the guest experience, competitive prices and the finest service since 1942. The company’s longtime clients include some of the largest cruise lines, resorts, healthcare facilities, country clubs and restaurants in the world. For more information on company products and services, visit www.dadelinen.com