Electrical switches highlighted as 'dirty' areas

Crabtree's range of anti-microbial electrical switches and socket outlets has been specially developed in conjunction with BioCote to help overcome this problem.

Hospitals are missing the key sources of MRSA infection by focusing on obvious 'dirty' areas, an expert has claimed.

Instead, cleaning should be targeted on "hand touch" sites in wards, such as door handles, bed rails, lockers, and electrical switches, surrounding patients, said Dr Stephanie Dancer from South General Hospital in Glasgow, writing in the medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Evidence showed that these were the places most likely to harbour the antibiotic resistant MRSA superbug.

Yet they were generally poorly cleaned, said Dr Dancer.

Crabtree's range of anti-microbial electrical switches and socket outlets has been specially developed in conjunction with BioCote to incorporate a unique silver additive specifically to help overcome this problem.

The silver contained in Crabtree accessories is a natural antimicrobial, with a high efficacy against bacteria, mould and fungi.

When micro-organisms come into contact with the silver, their ability to reproduce is inhibited and they die.

Responding to the study, the Government's chief nursing officer, Professor Christine Beasley, said: "Infection control is a complex problem that needs a range of solutions and the fact is there is no single remedy.

Carl Kimberley, Electrium's Marketing Manager said: "The Crabtree brand has always represented good design and safety, and we at Electrium are proud to now be a small part of the solution in the battle for infection control in our hospitals.".

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