Infection fears prompt cleaning kit sales

LONDON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Pharmacies in Britain sold more than 10,000 do-it-yourself cleaning kits last month alone amid fears of bacterium infection by consumers, officials say.

PatientPak Chairman Jonathan Sayeed said his company enjoyed increased sales of its cleaning kits in December because off heightened concerns about the potential spread of infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

"I'm not surprised at all by our sales, because people are concerned that there is a considerable problem out there," he said.

"Government talks up the fact that the rates of MRSA have fallen, and they have, but they have not fallen enough."

The Telegraph said the $23 kits feature a hygiene guide, along with a toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, soap and a nail brush.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Department of Health assured concerned citizens that action was being taken to limit the spread of hospital-acquired infections.