ADDITIVES | ANTIMICROBIALS
of bacteria. “Unlike antibiotics and the abuse of them, the antimicrobials we use do exhibit selectivity over specific strains of bacteria. In addition, antimicrobials we use attack bacteria in multiple routes, unlike specific pathways addressed by antibiotics,” Ong says. The difference in the means of operation is also highlighted by Gelest’s Jonathan Goff. “Biosafe antimicrobials prevent the growth of bacteria through physical kill and reduce the risk of causing antimicrobial resistance,” he says.
Above: Polypipe partnered with BioCote to provide antimicrobial odour protection for its range of water pipe connectors
not affect recyclability or disposal – they will not leach out and ‘poison’ a landfill,” he says. Use of antimicrobials does not affect the rate at
which regrind can be added, according to Ong, and can in some cases improve the properties of recycled plastics. “For recycled materials that are processed at very low temperatures, such as recycled foams that are then added to binders for making carpet underlayment, there might still be viable microbes left in the material, such as bacteria, fungal spores and yeast. In this case, an incorporated antimicrobial brings benefit by preventing residual microbes from surviving and growing,” he says. In addition, antimicrobials can counter potential harmful effects of organic contamination (such as sugars or dirt) in recycled materials. “During processing, these organic residues are often not removed or destroyed by heat and stay in the materials as organic content. In some materials, presence of organic content can encourage microbes to survive and attack the materials because the residual organic content acts as a potential food source for microbes,” Ong says. Antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance is a concern worldwide and compounders and end-users frequently ask whether the use of antimicrobials in plastics can cause resistant strains
Tackling resistance Antimicrobials in healthcare and medical environments actually help in the fight against antibiotic resistance, according to Lise Moloney, Director Business Development Healthcare at Sciessent. “We need to do what we can to prevent infections in the healthcare setting as these [drug-resistant] infections become more difficult to treat. Preventing infections will also help reduce the use and potential misuse of antibiotics, which is a contributing factor to the development of drug resistance,” she says. Another misperception sometimes raised by potential users is whether making everything “too clean” will prevent people from developing immunity or exacerbates allergies. “There isn’t really any evidence to securely link the improved cleaning practices developed in modern society with atopy (tendency to develop allergic reactions),” says Megan Vaughan, Technical Manager at BioCote. “The purpose of antimicrobial products containing BioCote is not to rid the world of microbes and make everything ‘too clean’, or to live a sterilised existence, but to control the level of microbes on key surfaces in environments where hygiene is of the utmost importance.” Paul Morris at Addmaster agrees, saying that
there is mixed messaging in this area with concerns about being “too clean” on the one hand and, on
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