Microbiologist urges healthcare officials to act now
October 1st 2010 An expert microbiologist is urging healthcare
officials to act now to prevent a potentially
devastating outbreak of NDM-1.
Dr Richard Hastings, microbiologist for
antimicrobial specialists BioCote, says that while
the new superbug is resistant to the most
powerful antibiotics, the fact is that antimicrobial
silver ion technology is effective against antibiotic
resistant bacteria, including E.coli, the bacterium
known to carry NDM-1.
Dr Hastings said:"There's no doubt in my mind that more drastic
action needs to be taken to combat hospital bugs and this is even
more paramount now NDM-1 has entered UK hospitals. To compound
this, there are also a host of other harmful microbes like MRSA and
Salmonella that present their own dangers.
"My message for the Government and the healthcare industry in
general is clear – prevention is better than cure. By adopting
antimicrobial silver technology into hospital equipment and furniture
at the manufacturing stage, it is proven through independent
laboratory testing to dramatically reduce bacteria, including E.coli and
MRSA,by up to 99 per cent. This obviously reduces the risk of cross
contamination and consequently the risks of patients being infected."
BioCote technology can be incorporated into a wide range of
products specific to the healthcare industry or any environment where
hygiene standards are critical, including restaurants, on-board cruise
ships and in schools or offices for example. For hospitals, this means
wall or floor tiles, paint, curtains,bed sheets, chairs, tables,work surfaces
and medical equipment could feature built-in antimicrobial protection
that lasts for the lifetime of the product.
Continued Dr Hastings:"Any interventions that can reduce
harmful microbes being transmitted to patients must be good news
and one that both government and the healthcare industry have to
take seriously. Unfortunately, even with the strictest hygiene
practices in place,well trained staff and the best disinfectants on the
market, it is impossible to clean a surface every minute of the day.
Once cleaning stops, bacteria begins to grow, with some microbes
able to double in number in as
little as 20 minutes." More articles from BioCote Ltd: | 
