Kettering Hospital opts for ‘built-in’ infection control

Published: 8-Apr-2011

Equips upgraded pathology labs with Odyssey Bio antimicrobial cable containment system


Cable management specialist Marshall-Tufflex has equipped the upgraded pathology laboratories at Kettering General Hospital, Northants, UK, with an Odyssey Bio antimicrobial cable containment system to improve infection control.

The project, part of a £1.1m refurbishment, has involved fitting more than 400 linear metres of Odyssey Bio (with red coloured back boxes to provide Part M compliance at a competitive cost) in a phased 18-month programme of works while the department remained operational.

Marshall-Tufflex says Odyssey Bio is different from many other antibacterial cable containment systems because its unique curved profile avoids the collection of dust. It also features bacteria-fighting, silver-based active ingredients, which are added to the PVC-U during manufacture rather than applied as a surface coating.

Consulting engineers for the refurbishment, Building Services Design, of Corby, Northants, chose Odyssey Bio for these qualities.

“I like the fact that the antimicrobial formula is integral to the plastic so that, despite what happens to it, it will continue to do its job,” said project consultant Jens Haugaard. “Additionally its curvature is easy to wipe clean.”

Once scratched or damaged, cable management systems that have antimicrobial agents applied as a surface coating can become contaminated by germs penetrating the surface.

Odyssey Bio benefits from having the antimicrobial additives distributed evenly through the product, which continue to neutralise bacteria such as MRSA, E-Coli and Salmonella, rendering them harmless even if the trunking becomes damaged, the company says.

“The client is happy, it is a good product and it is looking good on site. We have had no problems and are very pleased,” said Haugaard.

Odyssey Bio, supplied by Edmundson Electrical and fitted by Mann Electrical Services, both of Northampton, has been used on the benchtop upstands and against walls in the pathology laboratories. Where there are no upstands to benches, Marshall-Tufflex supplied triangular bench trunking units to special order. The containment systems carry essential power to analytical equipment used by the department.

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 is also registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and compliant with the European Biocidal Products Directive (BPD).

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