BioCote®

The control of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) remains a challenge for healthcare providers. This involves employing a combination of infection prevention and control strategies, including hand hygiene, cleaning, training and the adoption of new technologies, to tackle the problem.

As a result, a wide range of infection control products and technologies are available on the market, including antimicrobial technology.

BioCote® Ltd works with equipment manufacturers, engineering silver ion technology into a variety of healthcare related products, helping them to resist the growth of bacteria and mould on their surface. Silver is an ideal antimicrobial agent because it has a high efficacy against a wide range of medically-important microorganisms and is regarded as non- toxic.

For the NHS and other healthcare providers to employ new technologies and products they need to show a demonstrable ability to contribute positively to infection control. The use of any product that claims it has antimicrobial efficacy should be supported by a robust evidence-base.

Aim

A pilot study, conducted at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, investigated to what extent BioCote® antimicrobial products can reduce microbial contamination in a healthcare environment.

In independent laboratory tests, BioCote® antimicrobial protected materials regularly demonstrate reductions in counts of E. coli and S. aureus greater than 99%, compared with untreated samples.

The aim of this study was to determine to what degree this high level of antimicrobial efficacy could be achieved in a real-life hospital environment.

Study

Two outpatient units provided the environments for this 18 month pilot study. Unit A was refurbished with BioCote® treated products including blinds, tiles, door handles, sack holders and light switches and also a number of untreated products. A similar, refurbished outpatient ward containing untreated items (Unit B), served as a control.

Both outpatient units were similar in terms of volume of people, layout and floor-surface area and were subjected to standard cleaning practice. Both were allowed to function for 12 months before swabbing commenced.

Swabs were collected over a five month period from BioCote® treated and untreated products in both outpatient units. Swabs were processed for total counts of viable bacteria and results expressed as average counts of colony-forming units (CFUs).