Panel power

Throughout the world, hygiene has recently become a key focus. The growing awareness of the impact of methicillin-resistant or multiple antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), has led to a stronger emphasis on hygiene in professional healthcare environments – such as hospitals, nurseries, day care centres and other facilities with frequently changing users – among healthcare engineers and managers..

There is a marked increase in the number of people who get infected during hospital stays – and even a healthy person passing through a busy airport or visiting a sports centre runs the risk of contracting a difficult-to-treat infection. Recent studies demonstrate that more than 3% of patients who visit a hospital, develop an infection as a result of their stay. In intensive care units, neonatal departments and burn care centres, the percentage is alarmingly higher – up to 40% of all patients. It has been calculated that each year, many more people die from the effects of nosocomial infections than from traffic accidents. In Germany for example, 525,000 nosocomial infections are reported each year, 12,000 of which are fatal. About 30% of these infections are preventable.

Not surprising, as hospital patients, already weak from their conditions, have a very low resistance to germs and allergens. Whereas a healthy person can easily deal with one million bacteria per interval of time, a weakened patient can develop a serious infection at a dose of 10 foreign bacteria. It is in this environment that so-called nosocomial infections can be developed in a hospital by a very low dose of bacteria.

The cost of infections is significant: if an infection caused by a stay in hospital leads to a further 10 days additional stay at an estimated per day cost of €500 – such an infection can cost as much as €5,000 extra per patient – not to mention the additional burden they place on available beds, doctors and nursing staff.

However, the cost of fighting these infections is also high: it has been estimated that cleaning costs in a healthcare environment represents 2% of total running costs. Moreover, the effectiveness of regular cleaning may be limited.

The cause of most infections are micro-organisms that spread through surface contact and by infected airborne particles. From the surfaces, the germs are transferred to the body or to pieces of equipment. It is, therefore, important that all surfaces are cleaned regularly and effectively. To make this possible, all surfaces should be easy to clean and disinfect, without affecting the surfaces – as signs of wear can create cracks where more germs gather.

The choice of surface materials is of the utmost importance and can help minimise risks. Operating rooms are now being designed and built as cleanrooms, with strict criteria for minimising the dust load above the operating table. Carpeting is now avoided in critical areas and cleaning is carried out with vacuum cleaners fitted with high-efficiency particulate air-quality filters.

After a longer period of use, porous materials often contain large numbers of germs, in particular materials that are used in moist spaces. Dust traps must be prevented and surfaces that are difficult to clean or disinfect should be avoided. And surfaces should contain no cracks or fissures that are difficult to reach.

As a result, there is a demand for surface materials that can be cleaned fast and effectively, that do not support bacterial growth, are durable and environmentally sound and help to create a pleasant and attractive interior.

As a key producer of panels for demanding interior applications where hygiene and cleanliness are of crucial importance, Trespa International has many proven applications in healthcare facilities around the world. Its panels have been used in applications such as wall linings, sanitary cubicles/lockers, laboratory furniture and worktops.

The company is able to offer a range of functional panels with an exceptional degree of cleanability and hygiene. Its product ranges Trespa Virtuon and Trespa ToplabPLUS are durable, high quality panels, especially suited for demanding interior applications in an environment where bacteria and dirt pose a real threat.

Bacterial resistance

Both panel ranges have anti-bacterial properties incorporated, without the use of antimicrobial additives. Their smooth and non-porous surfaces do not support growth of micro-organisms and the panels’ hygiene properties remain unaffected even by extreme conditions. These antimicrobal characteristics are inherent in the product and will remain active throughout its lifetime. Moreover, the panels can be installed dry with a minimum of dust being released, thus reducing the risk of release of airborne particles capable of transporting micro-organisms.

Some surfaces available on the market now have additional coating products added – often termed hygienic, antimicrobial or antibacterial – in order to either kill or prevent the growth of micro-organisms with the intention of providing either hygienic or health care benefits. However recent expert opinion has showed that this is not necessary to improve the performance of the Trespa range.

Peter Askew an acknowledged authority in microbiology and antimicrobial surfaces and a director of Industrial Microbiological Services Ltd in the UK, says: “After tests, we have come to the conclusion that Trespa materials do not need to use additives in order to reinforce the performance of the surface.”

The reason for this is that when a strain of bacteria containing fluid is applied on the Trespa surface, it normally dries relatively quickly. This means that the larger number of bacteria types cannot survive as the stain dries, as there is no source of nutrition. “While the risk of cross contamination via wall lining is very small, Trespa’s unique surface has enough antimicrobial activity to be eminently suitable for use in healthcare applications,” he says, adding, “Regular and thorough cleaning remains the most important prevention.”

Low dirt pick-up

When compared with other frequently used surface materials, the use of Trespa Virtuon or Trespa ToplabPLUS can save an average of 75 hours per year per m2 of material, thanks to the low dirt pick up. This is due to the smoothness of the urethane-acrylic surfaces, which can also, if necessary, be cleaned with more aggressive cleaning agents. This results in removal of a larger part of the contamination. Despite frequent cleaning surfaces will retain their “as new” looks for many years.

Design and installation play an important part in good hygiene too: switches and control panels can be slotted into the Trespa surfaces and connections with the floor can be made flush for high cleaning efficiency; and due to optimum sheet sizes the number of joints is limited and several hygienic and durable joint solutions are available.

Test results and practical experience are important. To underline the effectiveness of our surface solutions, Trespa ToplabPLUS and Trespa Virtuon both carry a project guarantee of 10 years on impact resistance, moisture resistance, cleanability (Trespa Virtuon) and chemical resistance (Trespa ToplabPLUS).

The company’s Technology Centre provides r&d facilities, both for application development and direct customer support. It also owns a number of proprietary product technologies, including the Electron Beam Curing (EBC) process. This process gives panels their closed surface structure, ensuring that the outer layer is completely closed and impervious to moisture, cleaning agents, chemicals, disinfectants and micro-organisms.

The Trespa Virtuon is a panel with an integrated decorative surface for use in demanding interior applications, where hygiene and cleanliness are of crucial importance. These panels are manufactured using the EBC process, producing a closed, non-porous surface that is absolutely impervious to cleaning agents and disinfectants and can be maintained with minimum effort. The surface is resistant to moisture, chemicals, impact and wear – helping to keep panels free of stains and blemishes for many years, even in the most challenging environments.

The range includes: stand-alone HPL-Compact panels for top-range performance; Virtuon HPL (0.9 mm) for design-driven applications; and Trespa Virtuon directly faced on chipboard for cost-effective design solutions. They are available in a range of brilliant colours, metallic finishes and textures, offering mix and match opportunities for varied design possibilities.

Trespa TopLabPLUS is a self-supporting flat panel with a cellulose fibre reinforced phenolic resin core, manufactured using the company’s proprietary EBC process. The panels have an integrated, decorative surface and are resistant to the most aggressive chemicals and are easy to clean, disinfect and maintain.

Aggressive chemicals will not mark the surface and their heat resistant and durability mean these panels provide the ideal working surfaces in facilities subject to heavy use.

The panels are available in large sheet sizes, minimising the number of joints which otherwise could harbour dirt. They are also available in a range of standard colours.