PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: Marshall Tufflex Bio Trunking
Reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections is a top priority for the NHS – not only do such infections pose a real and high risk to health, National Audit Office figures calculate they cost the NHS up to £1 billion per year and affect some nine percent of hospital patients at any one time. It is against this backdrop that cable containment manufacturer Marshall-Tufflex has developed a solution that neatly and effectively manages power and data cables.
Marshall-Tufflex’s Bio Trunking Solutions also offer benefits when it comes to helping to prevent cross-infection in healthcare environments. They comprise PVC-U impregnated with a silver-based formulation that renders many common infections harmless. While Bio is no substitute for rigorous cleaning and high levels of personal hygiene for patients, staff and visitors, it is an additional weapon in the fight against infections such as MRSA, E-Coli and Salmonella.
Bio Trunking has been used to great effect in 11 operating theatres at the Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, where it has been installed in vertical lengths from floor to ceiling, providing an alternative to chasing cabling into walls.
The profile specified for Derriford was Marshall-Tufflex’s all-curved Odyssey, which is clutter-free and easy to clean thanks to its curves. Odyssey Bio is unique, being the first three compartment PVC-U cable containment system with a fully curved profile and antimicrobial properties.
“It is a superb product that has provided us with a cheaper and more effective method of managing cables. We are very pleased with it,” said Paul Cookney for Theatre Estates, Plymouth NHS Trust. “It has such a low profile with the advantage of no edge. People don’t notice it unless it’s pointed out to them.”
And Rob Ellis, Head of Electrical Estates for Plymouth NHS Trust, believes Bio Trunking has a bright future: “It is a product that is likely to come to the fore in the control of infection as Trusts up and down the country tackle the continuing threat of virulent infectious diseases,” he said.
Test results
Bio Trunking has been tested to ISO 22196:2007 and is proven to exhibit reductions in bacterial viable counts by more than 99.9%. Bacteria such as MRSA, E-Coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella are reduced by at least 99.9% after only 24 hours. If someone carrying one of these bugs on their hands touches Bio Trunking, bacteria transferred to the PVC-U begins to die, minimising the risk of cross contamination. On untreated dado trunking, the harmful bacteria will grow.
Importantly, because the antimicrobial ingredient is mixed into the PVC-U rather than applied as a surface coating, it continues to work if the plastic is scratched or damaged. For this reason specifiers should give priority consideration to trunking with the antimicrobial agent integral to the product, rather than applied as a surface coating. Bio Trunking remains 100% effective throughout its life as the active agent does not leach out or suffer any reduction in performance over time.
Those thinking of using an antimicrobial system should confirm that it is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and compliant with the European Biocidal Products Directive (BPD).
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