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HEALTH SECTOR NEWS Research explores new infection-tackling ‘tech’
A study has been launched at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital to explore how a new antimicrobial coating can protect the NHS by reducing healthcare- associated infections (HAIs). HAIs include a range of different
infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile). An estimated 3.5% of those that acquire a HAI die from the infection, according to research published by the British Medical Journal. To lower the risk of HAI from touching
contaminated surfaces, a new type of antimicrobial film coating has been developed by Merseyside-based vacuum coating solutions specialist, Gencoa, for use on a wide variety of healthcare surfaces with the aim of quickly eliminating environmental contamination between cleaning. To date, the film technology has been used on surfaces in busy public areas – for example on train station touchscreens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gencoa is now looking to explore applications in healthcare settings. The initial stage of assessing the
product’s viability for hospitals was undertaken in partnership with the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), ‘a world-leading centre for infection innovation and R&D’ based at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
which works in partnership with Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT). As part of iiCON’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) SME support programme, a fully funded study was conducted to verify the potential effectiveness of Gencoa’s antimicrobial coating, with the research particularly focusing on pathogens requiring new antibiotic treatments. The results proved the solution could, ‘in principle’, be applied to a hospital setting, with the data a key contributor to Gencoa receiving additional funding for a larger study alongside LUHFT, which runs the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Innovate UK awarded a £584,066 funding grant as part of its BioMedical Catalyst Award to a partnership between
How can engineering design help achieve Net Zero?
Mike Dunne, Service and Aftersales Technical manager at Howorth Air Technology (pictured – see also pages 49-52 of this issue), is gauging industry opinion around Net Zero and the NHS Green Plan.
In his final year degree dissertation, ‘How engineering design philosophy will achieve Net Zero in the UK healthcare sector’, he is collating views
on a wide range of topics – from live monitoring of power consumption at a south-west NHS Trust, to directly controlled emissions and goals for the NHS estate by 2040. With the challenges that the built environment will face over the next 25 years, he has decided to collate his knowledge
gained at university, and his passion for the NHS and healthcare engineering. To ensure that the assessment is as statistically accurate as possible, he would be grateful for input from the healthcare community. His survey should take around five minutes to complete, at:
https://forms.office. com/e/rQns3mR9jm Mike Dunne is completing his final
year studying for a Building Services and Sustainable Engineering BEng, accredited by CIBSE, at the University of Central Lancashire. To discuss this topic further, or talk to him about his findings once the research has been completed, email him at mapdunne@
uclan.ac.uk.
Gencoa, LSTM, and LUHFT, to optimise their coating for use in healthcare environments, and seek real-world data on efficacy and safety in a clinical environment. Antimicrobial
coatings will now be installed within clinical environments including touchscreens and
door handles in the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital, which opened in October. To create the coatings, Midlands- based Diamond Coatings will transfer the new technology to production, and develop a high-volume roll-to-roll capability for coating adhesive pads to protect screens and other surfaces. The coatings will be in place for up to 12 months, with their performance assessed under standard NHS Infection Prevention and Control guidance for cleaning. Systematic environmental testing of both coated and uncoated surfaces will look for differences in contamination, while in parallel, testing in a mock ward environment at LSTM will investigate whether changes to clinical cleaning pathways could be safely considered.
Insulation product BBA approved
Rockwool has been accredited with the British Board of Agrément (BBA) Agrément Certificate for its NyRock Rainscreen 032 product. NyRock Rainscreen 032 is a stone
wool insulation product specifically developed for use within ventilated cladding systems, and sealed systems such as curtain walling. Made using patented technology, it reportedly has a more efficient fibre structure that increases the density of air pockets trapped within each slab – for improved thermal performance compared with traditional stone wool products. “NyRock Rainscreen 032 has been
well received by the industry for its improved thermal performance,” said Lisa Stephens, Product manager for the Building Envelope at Rockwool UK.
February 2023 Health Estate Journal 11
Matt Livey Architectural Photography, NBBJ and HKS
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