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Infection prevention has never looked so good…
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Three treatment rooms and a recovery ward within an Exeter hospital’s new dermatology and lymphoedema unit have been fitted with an antimicrobial and fully curved profile trunking system from market leading cable management specialist Marshall-Tufflex.
Consultant engineers Terry Hearne & Partners opted for Marshall-Tufflex’s curved Odyssey Bio cable containment in order to ensure clinical areas within the new unit at the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital at Heavitree are as hygienic as possible.
“Preventing the spread of infection is a major element of the work we do within healthcare buildings and we are increasingly looking for building products that can play a part,” said Simon Cuthbert, of Terry Hearne & Partners, which designed the mechanical and electrical aspects of the project.
“We used standard Odyssey for the circuit housing voice and data structured cabling in consulting rooms and associated administrative areas, and installed the antimicrobial Odyssey Bio in the treatment areas. Even though there are no regulations, we considered Odyssey Bio to be the best course of action available to us. It provides us with peace of mind and the hospital is extremely happy with it.
“Undoubtedly infection control was the over-riding factor in the specification of Odyssey Bio but it is also is a good-looking trunking,” concluded Mr Cuthbert.
Tony Adkins, of Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust’s estates service, said: “Having successfully used Odyssey Bio in the dermatology and lymphoedema units we now looking at other clinical areas within the hospital where this cable management system can be applied.”
Electrical contractor for the installation was Beale & Cole of Exeter with product supplied by Harding Walsall, also of Exeter.
Silver-formulated, antimicrobial cable containment systems such as Odyssey Bio are playing an important role in fighting the spread of hospital-acquired infections by neutralising bugs such as MRSA, E-Coli and Salmonella, and are a proven method of neutralising some of the most common and dangerous bacteria found in hospitals, care homes and other locations where infection control is an issue. Untreated trunking systems can harbor harmful bacteria and, if touched, be a source of cross-contamination.
Odyssey Bio is, however, different to other anti-bacterial cable containment systems: not only does it have a uniquely all-curved profile, its active ingredients are embodied in the PVC-U itself rather than applied as a surface coating. Surface coatings can become ineffective if scratched or damaged whilst Odyssey Bio will go on doing its job even if it is scratched or damaged. Odyssey’s sleek curved lines not only look good but are also impossible to clutter, allowing necessary regular cleansing operations to be easily maintained.
Odyssey Bio has been tested to the quantitative standard ISO 22196:2007. Results show the survival rate of tested bacteria to be less than 0.1%. Cat 6-approved Odyssey Bio will remain completely effective even if scratched or damaged without a reduction in performance over time. It is also registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and compliant with the European Biocidal Products Directive (BPD).
