For Lombarda H, a company that produces disinfectants, educating young people on the importance of hand hygiene is essential.

Students are one of the groups most affected, and perhaps overlooked, by the health crisis. In recent months, young people have seen their daily lives upended as they were among the first to experience school closures. While appeals, open letters, sit-ins, and protests multiply, families, parents, and students are calling for a return to school. Currently, there are no certainties. In many European countries, schools have already reorganized to bring students back to class, although in France, 70 schools were closed again due to new outbreaks. However, in Italy, this remains uncertain, and authorities appear behind even in planning the scheduled reopening on September 1.

While challenging, it appears that the coming school year may unfold with some sense of normalcy. Lombarda H recommends that young people receive education on disinfection and hand hygiene, starting in the classroom, in a world that has inevitably changed after the health crisis. When students return to school, it will be important for professionals to instruct them not only on the importance of hygiene but also on practical methods to combat the spread of viruses and bacteria.

The Company

Lombarda H, active in the disinfection sector for years, produces and markets disinfectants for professional use. Pathogenic microorganisms vary in nature and survive differently on surfaces. Pathogens include viruses, yeasts/fungi, and bacteria. To eliminate these microorganisms from the skin or surfaces, certain factors must be considered: whether the disinfectant is effective, if the concentrations used are sufficient, and how to use the product safely.

Disinfection

Choosing the right disinfectant is anything but simple; for this reason, national and European legislation now requires disinfectant manufacturers to ensure their products are effective and safe. Disinfectants are classified as Medical Devices and Medical-Surgical Aids. The former are intended for disinfecting instruments and classified as medical devices, while the latter represent disinfectants for environments and surfaces or antiseptics for hand and skin treatment. Both have undergone European certification efficacy tests and are subject to a standardized national and European authorization process to be marketed. They must be accompanied by clear and consistent documentation. The main advantage of these registered disinfectants is that they guarantee safety and efficacy for the user.

Disinfecting, therefore, means reducing the risk of infection to a very low level and should be distinguished from sanitization. Sanitizers are cleaners that do not require certification or registration. They may contain active ingredients, such as quaternary ammonium salts, but the disinfectant action of these formulations is not tested; while they reduce bacterial presence on a surface, they do not guarantee disinfection to medical standards. Generally, a detergent removes dirt, while a disinfectant drastically reduces the presence of bacteria, fungi, and/or viruses.

Lombarda H offers a range of disinfectant products with various active ingredients, including PVP Iodine, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Benzalkonium Chloride, Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride, phenolic derivatives, dialdehydes, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol. One of the company's primary disinfectants is Electrolytic Chlorine, "Decs Pure"—an extremely pure, stable, and highly active solution. Electrolytic Chlorine is effective even at low concentrations, providing safe and effective solutions unlike other products. Lombarda H produces this active ingredient internally through electrolysis, starting from re-crystallized rock salt and demineralized osmosis water. Its disinfectant action results from its energetic content, requiring significant electrical energy for production—from reactions in electrolytic cells to cooling and exhaust systems.

This process allows Lombarda H to be a leading producer of Sodium Hypochlorite solutions in Italy and Europe.

This active ingredient, along with alcohol (ethyl and isopropyl), provides a safe and effective method to eliminate COVID-19 according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and WHO (World Health Organization).