There has been some talk in the electrical trade press recently about certain standard white plastic electrical accessories having the ability to kill surface bacteria and hence be more suitable for use in medical environments than the standard type of accessory. There are also claims that they are helpful in the fight against MRSA and other healthcare-associated infections

It has been widely known for some time that the chemicals used in the production of standard white moulded wiring accessories from most, if not all, of the major manufacturers, give an accessory some limited antimicrobial properties.

Not so widely known is that these properties fall off fairly rapidly with time, typically disappearing after six months or so of practical use.

An environmental trial conducted in 2007 compared two out-patient facilities in the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, one containing BioCote, antimicrobial-protected furniture and equipment, while the other facility was refurbished with standard, untreated items.

The treated items in the trial included Crabtree antimicrobial electrical sockets and switches, which are BioCote-protected products.

Contained in BioCote-protected products is silver, a natural antimicrobial, with a high efficacy against bacteria, mould and fungi.

When micro-organisms come into contact with the silver, their ability to reproduce is inhibited and they die. This property does not deteriorate with time.

Results showed that the facility at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, which contained BioCote-protected Crabtree accessories, had 95.8% less bacteria present in the environment than the standard ward, which contains untreated products.

Even products like Crabtree’s antimicrobial accessories still require cleaning and should not be considered as a replacement or alternative to good hygiene practices.

They should be considered as an additional line of defence, which supports regular hygiene practices.

Ashley Robinson, product specialist, Crabtree

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor