HCAIs have a significant impact on patient outcomes and NHS expenditure in England. According to a report published by Public Health England in 2018, Healthcare-Associated Infections in England resulted in an estimated 2.9 million extra bed days, 1 million prescriptions for antibiotics, and an estimated cost of £1 billion annually to the NHS.

The report emphasised the importance of preventing and controlling HCAIs to improve patient outcomes and reduce the financial burden on the NHS.

At the end of last year, a verification trial was conducted by ALS to assess the long-term effects of Resysten’s anti-microbial coating on naturally occurring surface microorganisms in a medical environment and clinical engineering work surfaces.

The trial was conducted at Epsom and St. Helier hospital over a 4-month period where Resysten’s anti-microbial coating was applied to high-touch areas of critical care ventilators in ICU were treated along with medical device workshop and library areas.

The assessment was based on the reduction in colony forming units on surface swabs from before the Resysten AMC was applied to the surfaces and compared to after 1 month and 4 months of the AMC being in use. Swabs were taken over 10 positions in two areas at three different test points. 

In the trial the Resysten anti-microbial coating was recorded to show a reduction of 98.44% (1.81Log10cfu/cm2) in naturally occurring microorganisms at 1 month after the surface had been coated and 95.83% (1.38Log10cfu/cm2) at 4 months after the surface had been coated.  

Not only Resysten Medical AMC proves to be a long-term solution against naturally occurring microorganisms on in-use medical equipment and Clinical engineering work area surfaces. Furthermore, the coating provides an excellent maintenance protection against corrosion, abrasion and wear for medical device plastics, glass, metals ceramics and textiles. 

The advantages include: 

• Scratch and abrasion resistance, anti-static.
• Prevention of soiling, anti-aging, degradation and friction/wear.
• Better surface appearance.
• Good chemical resistance (limits damage to medical device surfaces caused by harsh cleaning and oxidising disinfection).
• Decrease in permeability to corrosive environment and hence better corrosion properties.
• Optical clarity.
• Increase in modulus and thermal stability.
• Easy to clean surfaces.
• Anti-skid, anti-fogging, anti-fouling and anti-graffiti properties.

The trial concludes:

• The Resysten Medical AMC provides an excellent medical device maintenance spray.
• The trial confirms that the Resysten Medical AMC works and for a long time in a real-life healthcare setting.
• The use of the Resysten Medical AMC is an effective way of reducing the risk of fomite transmitted diseases by medical devices.
• The report provides evidence that the use of the Resysten Medical AMC statistically reduces HCAI (Healthcare Associated Infections)
• The use of Resysten Medical AMC promotes and provides both safer medical equipment and safer clinical spaces for patients, staff and visitors.

Darren Magee, Trust Assistant Director Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering at Epsom and St. Helier Hospital, strongly recommends a combined approach in the healthcare environment and stated that because the Hungarian solution had provided outstanding results over an extended period, it should be  considered as an ideal candidate to form part of a comprehensive package of measures to reduce disease transmission, alongside responsible antibiotic use and more basic infection control measures, such as regular hygiene and handwashing regimes.

He stressed that Resysten is an innovative company that boasts prestige university research partnerships, so customers can be assured that they are using the highest quality and most advanced technology.