Choice of material in case of risk of contact infection.

In healthcare, there is an increased risk of spreading infection. Infection can be transmitted through touch surfaces such shared between patients. This imposes special requirements when cleaning and disinfecting. RISE has the competence to evaluate the suitability of the choice of materials and chemicals intended for the healthcare environment.

Purpose

Requirements for materials:

In the healthcare sector, all materials that are present must be easy to clean and durable. This places great demands on the nature of the materials as cleaning, with both mechanical and chemical action, is carried out regularly in these environments. It can be difficult to determine whether a material such as in a bathtub, chair covering or mattress can withstand to be cleaned and disinfected repeatedly over a long period of time while the removal of dirt and microorganisms is still sufficient.

Disinfectant requirements:

Surfaces with patient contact where infection could be transmitted must be cleaned and sometimes disinfected. Special requirements are imposed on the disinfectant in terms of killing microorganisms while the chemicals must not damage the material. RISE can evaluate the microbiological effect and assess what the material can withstand.

Method

With a broad expertise in materials and surfaces, chemistry and analytical methods, microbiological requirements and methodology, RISE offers the following expertise and services related to hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in healthcare environments:

Effectiveness of disinfectants against bacteria, yeast, mold and viruses
Biofilm, detection, identification, build-up, reduction
Bioburden, detection on surfaces
Cleanability test, worst case scenario with relevant dirt
Material compatibility with chemical disinfectants
Surface resistance to abrasive wear
Accelerated aging and simulated exposure to environmental factors

Tests are, as far as possible, equal to or based on relevant ISO and EN standards.

Deliveries

An assignment at RISE regarding material selection can, for example, constitute support in product development work, procurement or purchasing in order to be able to choose between different solutions to obtain a suitable, i.e. durable and easy-to-clean material. It can also involve evaluating the microbiological or dirt-removing effect of a disinfectant or cleaning agent.