Door Industry Journal - Summer 2018

116 THE door industry journal summer 2018 Locks & Building Hardware Feature Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk The Calling for Copper The antimicrobial properties of copper are ideally suited to the healthcare environment. Here, Franz Lorenschitz, Marketing Manager at Allgood explores the health and cost benefits of this much under-used material. Prevention of healthcare associated infections (HCAI), such as MRSA, staph infections, E.Coli and pneumonia, are recognised as an essential element in the safe delivery of healthcare. Despite prevention strategies such as infection control policies and sustained improvements in hygiene, up to 300,000 patients in England annually still develop HCAI related illnesses while in hospital costing the NHS an estimated £1 billion in extra treatment costs. This puts patients and staff at risk, while stretching already scant resources in the process. Prominent speakers from within the medical sector are calling for greater measures to control and reduce infection rates. For instance, Tom Sandford, Director of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “Infection prevention and control are key to patient safety and need to be prioritised by every health service organisation.” The clinical environment can serve as a reservoir to potentially life-threating pathogens, with microrganisms being transferred to susceptible patients from the surrounding environment or by the hands of healthcare workers and visitors. While most healthcare facilities have stringent hand hygiene policies and cleaning regimes, including good hand hygiene, regular cleaning and disinfection, microrganisms are extremely resistant and touch surfaces such as stainless steel door handles serve as a perfect breeding ground. However, by specifying antimicrobial copper ironmongery products such as door levers, push plates, pull handles and wc turns, healthcare facilities can dramatically reduce the spread of sickness and infection. These products include copper alloys that can eradicate 99.9% of bacteria within two hours of contact, assisting in preventing any HCAI being picked up by patients on site. Initially dating back to over 10,000 years ago, copper is man’s oldest metal. It was first used by ancient Egyptians due to its naturally protective features, with copper medical instruments used to perform operations. Beyond this period, the Greeks and Romans were known to use copper to treat common ailments such as headaches and ear infections, while additionally utilising it to maintain standards of hygiene. Clinical trials in a variety of hospital wards around the world have shown a continuous reduction in bacteria on copper surfaces compared to non-copper equivalents. For instance, a