INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROL
Streptococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhimurium and MRSA on surfaces.
Washrooms
Contour, a UK specialist for disabled bathrooms, level access showers and walk-in wet room showers, provides more than sixty types of shower tray incorporating antimicrobial technology. Dart Valley Systems also supplies a range of fixed shower heads with inbuilt antimicrobial product protection featuring a ligature-resistant head fin a one- piece antimicrobial ABS outlet to reduce bacterial surface growth. Medi-Shower is a new shower system designed to tackle bacterial growth and biofilm build-up. The system comprises an antimicrobial embedded shower head and hose with a colour coded removable spray insert. This shower system also features a custom- built hose incorporating a treated flexible hose liner. This WRAS approved hose is suitable for use in all potable water supply applications especially where hygiene is critical, for example hospitals, dental clinics, nursing and care homes.
Good hand hygiene is the best weapon against illness, but as many as 25% of
people don’t wash their hands after using the toilet. Even if you clean, sanitise and disinfect surfaces regularly, they can become contaminated from the very next touch or from airborne microbes. Regular hand dryers with standard filters can simply draw in dirty washroom air and blow it back on to your hands. The advanced design of the Biomaster protected Dyson Airblade is designed to filter out 99.9% of bacteria. The outer casings are also protected to reduce the build-up of surface bacteria. Pull cords in washrooms have potential for bacterial growth because they become contaminated with faecal and skin bacteria, representing a source of poor hygiene. The multifilament braid design of commonly used cords in healthcare and domestic settings, which has an uneven surface, also makes effective cleaning very difficult. The anti-ligature Clean PullCord has a durable wipe clean coating impregnated with antimicrobial product protection and can be used with standard cleaning products or disinfectants. Vectair Systems meanwhile has developed a range of products that promote maximum hygiene incorporating surface resistance to bacterial build-up.
Housekeeping Warwick SASCo Antimicrobial holder Medi-Shower system
There are also a number of antimicrobial cleaning tools designed for areas that require very high standards of cleanliness and where being able to show ‘due diligence’ in the control of biological and physical contamination is of paramount importance. Hillbrush manufactures a wide range of cleaning tools including high quality brushes with inbuilt antimicrobial product protection that effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria on the surface of the product. The company also supplies bespoke antimicrobial shadow boards to highlight usage and misplacement of cleaning equipment. Regular cleaning pads can become a propagation vehicle for bacteria to spread from one environment to another. Crisp Clean Services supplies the patented, antimicrobial Silver mop, a recognised method for reducing bacterial growth within the textile mop head, while Fibratesco provides professional floor cleaning and polishing pads with inbuilt antimicrobial technology. Paper is inherently difficult to clean, which makes it a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Patient files, for example, are handled frequently and potentially source of bacterial growth. Silver ion technology provides lasting antimicrobial product protection on menu cards, order books and other shared paperwork, reducing levels of bacteria on the surface and bacterial build- up in storage. SecuraShield laminating film is also available in antimicrobial laminating pouch and roll film formats for healthcare industry documents or can be used to protect healthcare signage and information boards. Waste collection is another area where the hygiene and environmental performance
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of washrooms can be significantly improved with antimicrobial product protection. There are already several manufactures providing household clinical refuse bags fabricated with Biomaster technology to prevent the growth of micro-organisms including Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. Sansafe, a hygienic bin liner produced by Cromwell Polythene, also contains Scentmaster scent masking technology, helping eliminate unpleasant odours, both inside and outside the liners.
Workwear and laundry
Antimicrobial technology can be added to clinical workwear at any stage of production without affecting the characteristics of the material. It provides durable and effective protection against odour-causing bacteria. Treated fabrics don’t have to be washed as frequently and can be washed at a lower temperature, saving water and energy, causing less damage to the fabric and increasing durability, while retaining the antimicrobial benefit associated with much hotter wash cycles. Such technology can also be applied to laundry wash for lasting on-site antimicrobial protection for garments and uniforms. Fabric wash and fabric spray reduces the microbial load, both bacterial and viral, in all types of soft furnishings and fabrics including chairs, curtains and carpets. Both products can be easily incorporated into existing cleaning and commercial laundry regimes, inhibiting the growth of bacteria including Norovirus on the surface of fabrics. An additional benefit of the technology is its ability to reduce odour-forming bacteria. Laboratory tests show that fabrics treated with silver-ion technology produce fewer malodours and therefore provide a fresher environment. These products are currently used in the hospitality sector by the likes of Haven Holiday Parks, Butlin’s and Warner Leisure.
CSJ JUNE 2018
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