EnviroVent discusses hygiene in healthcare in PSB

Mike Massey from EnviroVent explains to PSB readers how using technology and traditional techniques reduces the risk of bacterial cross-contamination in healthcare environments.

Over recent few years, cleanliness and hygiene has become a major public issue in hospitals, care homes and GP surgeries, fuelled by media reports of soaring MRSA contamination and other bacterial scares.

This has led to the development of products which are scientifically proven to have high success rates in destroying bacteria and viruses such as MRSA and SARS.

An important technological development for the control of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) is the use of silver ion technology.

Silver antimicrobial technology is safe, natural and sustainable, and has been used for centuries to aid preservation.

The ancient Greeks used silver vessels to keep their water fresh, while the Emperors of Imperial China ate with silver chopsticks.

Silver was also widely used in hospitals to combat bacteria before the introduction of antibiotics, and today it is found in a range of products from wound dressing to hospital bedding and theatre cladding.

Silver ion is bioactive, making it effective against a comprehensive range of micro-organisms thanks to its lack of toxicity to non-target cells.

The latest advancements in antimicrobial technology now allow silver to be added to everyday products at the manufacturing stage, without affecting their performance or aesthetics in any way.

Every surface in a hospital is a potential breeding ground for bacteria, so all products which incorporate silver antimicrobial technology can be useful in lowering the numbers of bacteria, and while antimicrobial technology is not the whole solution, it can go a long way towards lowering the risk of cross-contamination.

These claims are backed up by a recent study conducted at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, which examined the efficacy of products with Biocote's silver ion technology in a real-life hospital environment.

The study involved two outpatient units, one of which had been refurbished using Biocote-treated products such as door handles and blinds, while the other was refurbished without treated products.

The two units functioned normally and were subjected to standard cleaning practice for 12 months, before swabs were collected from both units over a five month period.

The results showed an average bacterial reduction of 95.8 per cent in the unit using the products that incorporated the silver antimicrobial technology - proof that using such technology provides a continuous decontamination effect.

In addition to this, it is now becoming increasingly recognised that ventilation performance and efficiency greatly depends on the cleanliness of the system.

Dirty, contaminated ventilation units and ductwork is a major source of indoor air pollution and, over time, contaminants build up inside unprotected ductwork, creating an ideal breeding ground for mould, bacteria, fungi and other microbes.

These are a major source of indoor air pollution with dirty ventilation systems contributing to 50 per cent of all cases of Sick Building Syndrome.

After all, no matter how high the standard of cleaning practices, if the site has a contaminated ventilation system, polluted air will continue to circulate and bacterial cross-contamination will continue.

It is important to note, however, that technology is not the sole solution to bacterial cross-contamination.

Simple measures such as ensuring staff wash their hands before and after physical contact with patients are basic common sense.

In fact, these easily-observed recommendations can have the biggest impact.

From our own research into infection control in healthcare environments, we know that there is never any single solution to the issue of cross-contamination.

As recent studies show, silver antimicrobial technology is certainly helping to give healthcare staff a head start in the fight against infectious diseases, in some cases reducing bacteria counts by up to 98 per cent .

However, the usefulness of most of these products is dependent on the cleanliness of the environment - this means that traditional infection control measures, such as good cleaning practices and personal protective equipment, are just as important as silver ion technology.

Overall, the message is simple - keep hospitals and indoor air clean, and make use of antimicrobial technology as much as possible.

Mike Massey is RandD director at EnviroVent.

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