Emma Segelov, MK Electric’s EMEA Marketing Operations Manager, discusses electrical accessory solutions for environments where hygiene is a priority.
Hospitals and other healthcare institutions, such as nursing homes, go to great lengths to prevent patients from acquiring infections whilst under their care. According to research published in the British Medical Journal, every adult patient who contracts a Healthcare Acquired Infection (HCAI) will have an increased length of stay in hospital, at cost of more than £586 per day. At a time when health services are under considerable pressure to free up resources, preventing HCAIs has never been so critical.
This is primarily achieved by maintaining a hygienic environment through a robust cleaning regime and regular handwashing, but in addition, the use of antibacterial products also has an important part to play.
In terms of wiring devices, a solid recommendation is MK Electric’s Logic PlusT range. It is produced using urea formaldehyde; a high-grade thermoset material that has similar intrinsic properties to antimicrobial additives and kills harmful bacteria, such as MRSA, E. coli, salmonella and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
As the anti-bacterial property is inherent in the actual compound of the product, Logic Plus is incredibly effective at killing dangerous bacteria. Independent laboratory testing collected over a 24 hour period, showed a kill rate of 99.9% against MRSA, E. coli and Salmonella and had a kill rate of 98.9% against Klebsiella pneumoniae. In addition, the range is scratch-free thanks to high quality mould tools, meaning there are no dirt traps for the bacteria to spread – another way to help optimise safety.
If you’re specifying or installing PVCu cable management systems, MK Electric’s Prestige 3D Antibac Blue is designed to help to kill bacteria which can grow on surfaces such as trunking systems, providing over a 99.9% kill rate against MRSA, E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae as confirmed by independent laboratory testing collected over 24 hours. It uses an additive within the PVCu which acts as an effective weapon in killing harmful bacteria and can be specified alongside Logic Plus to provide a complete antibacterial solution.
As the additive is homogenous with the PVCu compound the protection runs throughout. There is no loss of effectiveness where the trunking lengths are cut on-site or if the surface becomes scuffed or scratched. It also has a fluorescence under UV light and glows blue for easy product identification and client confidence.
The antibacterial additive used in the range is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and compliant with the European Biocidal Products Directive (BPD).
Logic Plus and Prestige 3D Antibac Blue are manufactured in the UK and distributed nationally. Therefore, we can provide a level of certainty around product availability during periods of increased demand.
As with many public sectors, the healthcare arena offers a multitude of opportunities for the electrical contractor. However, a diligent approach is always recommended, using products which are not just high quality, robust and reliable, but also may help make a tangible difference in optimising hygiene standards and reducing the risk of infections. In this way, contractors can look to make a real difference in raising safety standards for the greater good.
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