The Equipment spearheading fight against superbugs
A World Health Organization (WHO) report released April 2014 stated, "this serious threat is no longer a prediction for the future, it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country. Antibiotic resistance—when bacteria change so antibiotics no longer work in people who need them to treat infections—is now a major threat to public health."
Bathing supplier Gainsborough is looking to highlight the importance of protecting against Superbugs in care environments as it brings its BioCote Antimicrobial Technology to the fore.
Through Silver Ion Antimicrobial Technology, BioCote claims to provide 99.99% protection against microbes including Influenza H1N1, E.coli, Salmonella and antibiotic resistant CPE, CRO, CRE, VRE and MRSA. This capability is aimed at reducing the potential for the spread of infection caused by microbes and improving care levels in hospitals and care homes.
Public Health England estimates that the Superbug phenomenon could result in 10 million extra worldwide deaths by 2050. CPEs such as Escherichia, Shigella and pose a critical threat in hospitals and care homes where patients are particularly vulnerable.
The built environment within the care sector exacerbates the problem with shared facilities and enclosed spaces. These act as breeding grounds for microbes which are spread easily through circulated air and communal surfaces.
Thorough regular hand washing and deep cleaning procedures are reducing cross contamination however multi-drug resistant pathogenic bacteria continue to develop. These are generating more CPE, CRO, CRE and VRE bacteria which are now branded as ‘seriously emerging infectious diseases’. Reducing these Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAI’s) is a priority for care home and hospital managers – hence equipment with integrated BioCote Technology is being deployed throughout care environments. The latest Gainsborough height adjustable baths are part of this roll out.
The integration of BioCote during the manufacturing of Gainsborough baths ensures the technology cannot be wiped, washed or worn away. This provides superior antimicrobial protection with all treated components inhospitable to microbes so infectious bacteria cannot survive or multiply.
Gainsborough baths include BioCote Silver Ion Antimicrobial Technology so microorganisms that cause illness or deteriorate products cannot survive on bathing surfaces. Through mechanical and chemical means BioCote has a multi-modal action that delivers proven protein and oxidative damage, membrane disruption and DNA interference to microbial cells. BioCote kills up to 99.99% of:
MRSA and ESBL-producing coli, Clostridium difficile, Klebsiella pneumoniae
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae or CPE
Escherichia, Shigella and Salmonella
Fungi (including invasive Candida species like Candida auris)
Viruses such as H1N1 swine flu and H7N9 Avian flu
CRO, CRE and VRE