Antimicrobial glass launched
A variety of glass, claimed to be a world-first for killing bacteria, has been launched by Brussels-based company AGC Flat Glass Europe.
The AntiBacterial Glass has been developed to contain silver properties and is said to be 99.9% effective in killing bacteria, including MRSA and fungi.
University laboratories have tested the glass and validated results are based on European and Japanese standards.
The glass can be used for all kinds of surfaces, from glazing to wall coverings and mirrors.
Jean-François Heris, president and chief executive officer of AGC Flat Glass Europe, said: “We’re very excited by the practical applications of AntiBacterial Glass and we anticipate considerable demand for our product from all sectors where hygiene is a must. This is another example of how our products can help improve the quality of life of millions of people.”
According to the company, as many as one in every ten Europeans who go into hospital will catch a bacterial infection there, which can result in medical complications, longer hospital stays and, in the worst case, death. Some 50,000 people in Europe are estimated to die every year from infections they picked up whilst hospitalised for other illnesses.
MRSA, bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, present a particular problem in many European countries. The cost of these infections is also significant monetarily: surgical site infections alone could be costing European healthcare as much as €19bn (£13bn) annually.