Winners announced in
competition to find new ways to beat hospital bugs
Nine products have
been selected as winners in a competition to find new ways
to help combat healthcare associated infections (HCAIs).
They have been chosen from
around 250 applications submitted to the Smart Solutions for
HCAI programme, an NHS project which aimed to identify
innovative technologies from different industry sectors with
the potential to fight hospital bugs.
Smart Solutions for HCAI is a national programme run by
TrusTECH®, the North West of England NHS Innovation Hub, on
behalf of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA)
and supported by the NHS National Innovation Centre. The
programme is part of a wider HCAI Technology Innovation
Programme and is a joint initiative between the Department
of Health and NHS PASA which aims to speed up the
development and introduction of new technologies to help
combat infections.
The winning products will all be evaluated in an NHS setting
beginning in early 2009, with a view to gathering the
evidence base to aid further development and potentially
supplying them across the NHS in the future if effective.
The successful products - and the companies behind them -
are:
AirManager, driven by Close Coupled Field Technology (CCFT)
- Quest International (UK) Ltd
AirManager uses CCFT to destroy particles in air including
microbes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It also
reduces airborne odours. The product is currently used in
food, aerospace, agriculture and other sectors where
bio-security, bio-integrity and emission controls are
paramount.
See www.airmanager.com
for further details.
Formula 429 and Formula 429 plus – Chemspec Europe
This cleaning product that combines a patented formulation
of biocides which allows it to counter a wide range of
microbes while reducing the overall quantity used. The
product is an alternative to steam or sodium hypochlorite
for deep cleaning and is harmless to humans.
See
www.chemspec-europe.com
Liquid glass layering technology – Nanopool
Nanopool’s award-winning coatings technology protects
surfaces ranging from floorings to glass, metal and stone
and is used in food production, hotels and healthcare areas
in Germany. It makes surfaces easy to clean using water
alone and provides long-term anti-bacterial protection.
See www.nanopool.co.uk
Medixair - GE Healthcare
Medixair is a portable ultraviolet air sterilisation device
capable of killing airborne microorganisms. Clinically
trialled and already in use overseas, Medixair is designed
for use in hospitals - to complement the efficacy of hand
hygiene and deep cleaning infection control routines.
See www.medixair.com
MedMat – Ergomedica
MedMat is a unique two-layer mat system that provides a
clean, aseptic environment for a variety of clinical
procedures. It separates the clean from the dirty elements
of the procedure and encourages good practice whilst
capturing waste in a sealable bag. MedMat provides a barrier
to infection which protects both patient and clinicians from
HCAIs.
See www.medmat.co.uk
Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) - TwistDx
Conventional tests to detect HCAIs are laboratory based and
take hours or days to give a result. These tests based on
RPA technology allow medical staff to screen patients at the
point of care, for example on admission to hospital, and
detect those carrying infections within just 15 minutes.
See www.twistdx.com
The AD (air disinfection unit) - Inov8 Science Ltd
The AD emits hydroxyl radicals - often referred to as the
’open air factor’ - which destroy pathogens, replicating the
way in which the natural environment disinfects the air in
open spaces. This process is self-perpetuating as the
destruction of one pathogen releases more hydroxyl radicals.
See
www.inov8science.com
UV lighting equipment range - UV Light Technology Ltd
This range of ultraviolet inspection lamps can reveal
contamination invisible to the naked eye, exposing areas
that have been missed during cleaning. The process is used
by forensic scientists for revealing trace evidence. It
could be used to check cleaning procedures, identify problem
areas and train staff.
See www.uv-light.co.uk
V-Link luer-activated device with VitalShield protective
coating - Baxter Healthcare Ltd
V-Link is the first antimicrobial needle-free IV connector
in the UK. The device has been shown to kill at least 99.99
per cent of the six most common pathogens known to cause
catheter-related bloodstream infections including MRSA.
See
www.baxterhealthcare.co.uk
Applications for the programme were received from across the
UK and from Ireland, Holland, Italy, Germany, France, Canada
and the US. They were screened by an expert review panel
consisting of leading academics, nurses and other infection
control specialists. Around 30 hospitals have applied to
host evaluations.
Bryan Griffiths, Smart Solutions for HCAI project director,
said: “Response to the project has been overwhelming and
judges have been extremely impressed by the high standard of
entries. They have had to make some difficult decisions in
choosing the winners.
“In our mission to find new solutions to help prevent and
control HCAIs, we have looked at a wide array of industry
sectors. The final list includes some of the most innovative
products in their field and will hopefully provide us with
new weapons in the fight against HCAIs in the future.”
