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THE POWER OF TOUCH


Most infections spread by touch, so it’s not surprising that door handles and push plates are a fertile breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Dave Carson of P-Wave explains how low-cost technology can protect clean hands from pathogens.


Cleaning teams and managers know that the daily tide of humanity makes their job both relentless and essential. Human behaviour makes it harder. Careless splashes, dropped hand towels, and grubby fingerprints quickly undo that hard work.


But it’s the invisible impact of unclean hands that is more significant for human health as opposed to appearances.


Only one person in three always washes their hands after using toilets, according to research by the British Toilet Association. Many of the great number of unwashed hands leave potentially harmful microbes on the door handle on their way out.


They don’t stop there. Microbes and viruses are known to colonise door furniture around a building. It is estimated that 80% of infections are spread by touch. Contaminated door handles and push plates will play a big part. Incidentally, when hands are washed but not dried properly the likelihood of picking up germs is multiplied a thousand-fold as the microbes stick more easily to the skin.


A study by microbiologists at the University of Arizona showed how a virus on a single door could spread throughout a building in just a few hours. But as cleaning professionals – or indeed, employers concerned about staff sickness – we can do more than throw our hands up in horror and order more bacterial wipes.


Technology provides a countermeasure that is highly effective, irrespective of human habits and behaviour.


Silver has been used for many years in medical and other applications to counter infection. At a fraction of the cost, silver ions in coatings can exploit the precious metal’s anti- bacterial properties. In an ionic state – i.e., lacking one or more electrons – the atoms of silver have the ability to penetrate the cell membrane of microbes. This destroys the pathogen and its DNA, so cells cannot


44 | WASHROOM HYGIENE reproduce.


Silver ion technology has many advantages over other measures. It is not harmful to humans, plants or animals; it is long-acting; and low-cost.


As a result, the technology is being exploited in washing machines and refrigerators, and most significantly, now it’s helping to protect public health in buildings – through anti- bacterial covers for door handles and


“A study by


microbiologists at the University of Arizona


showed how a virus on a single door could spread throughout a building in just a few hours.”


push plates. Their silver ion coating eliminates a broad spectrum of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and fungi.


Manufactured in the UK, the newly patented Purehold products have been proven to be highly effective in independent tests.


Laboratory tests (performed to the recognised ISO 22196:2011 international standard) measured Purehold’s effect on three types of bacterium. The results were dramatic. The coated cover was shown to have eradicated 99.99% of the E-coli colony and the same for the Staph Aureus bacteria. For Salmonella, the kill rate was 98.64%.


Purehold’s performance was also assessed in an office building with 80- plus employees. These independent field trials compared the product – when fitted to male and female toilets and the staff canteen – with standard stainless steel handles. Each were hygienically cleaned and then re-tested after a week.


The Purehold covered handles proved to be 96.4% cleaner, on average, than the uncovered stainless steel handles. These covers currently come in two forms, requiring no special tools or experience, and just normal cleaning.


The P-Hold handle cover can be fitted in less than 30 seconds without special tools or training to the most common D-handles. Robust, with a metallic ice blue or black finish, P-Hold continues to combat pathogens for six months.


The P-Plate is just as easy to install. It is secured magnetically to standard push plates and sanitises for a full 12 months.


Each product has a visual indicator so cleaning staff know when they should be replaced. They and their managers also know – whether or not customers realise or care – their health and welfare is in good hands.


www.p-wave.co.uk/product/p-plate-and-p-hold twitter.com/TomoCleaning


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