Fighting infection in hospitals
This is the award entry for Markwik 21+ and Contour 21+, entered by Armitage Shanks in the Best Interior Building Product category
Armitage Shanks worked in partnership with leading scientists and specialists to develop two new innovative healthcare solutions, both helping the fight against infection in hospitals.
The new Markwik 21+ fittings and Contour 21+ clinical ceramics ranges were developed in response to the evolving threats in hospitals and significantly push forward hygiene innovation and bacterial prevention.
The range provides a complete solution, helping to reduce the opportunity for bacteria to grow throughout hospitals.
It comes as the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH) confirms that areas featuring sanitaryware are virulent breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. Furthermore, a report by the UK's House of Commons on Reducing Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI) in Hospitals in England, found that annually 300,000 people contract a HCAI after a hospital visit, creating a £1billion additional care cost for the NHS.
It also advises that appropriate sanitary precautions can actively prevent the spread of dangerous germs, improving patient health and reducing the potential for HCAIs which are costly to healthcare institutions.
Markwik 21+ and Contour 21+ achieve this via unique design features that address pooling and water stagnation, reduce splashing and the amount of static water in the system, as well as working with materials that limit the opportunity for bacteria to feed and provide a flexible maintenance system for cleansing fixtures and fittings.
Armitage Shanks worked in partnership with leading scientists and specialists to develop the two new ranges.
Industrial designers at Goodwin Hartshorn helped the business develop its revolutionary anti-splash Hydrofin for the Contour 21+ basin. These designers worked alongside Armitage Shanks’ 32 product engineers across Germany and the UK, who focused on the new Markwik 21+ fittings.
The business also worked extensively with universities to increase its understanding of biofilm and bacterial growth.
