New anti MRSA product, The BioKab, University of Manchester

Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Article Date: 11 May 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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Scientists at The University of Manchester, along with healthcare product manufacturer Brimaid, have unveiled a new product which aims to aid hospitals in the fight against MRSA. The BioKab is a bedside cabinet which has been specifically designed to reduce the spread and infection of harmful bacteria in hospital wards.

The cabinet is made from a polyethylene plastic impregnated with an antibacterial agent proven to kill the MRSA bug. The cabinet's unique soft-edge radiused-corner design and its light weight also means it is easy for hospital staff to keep clean and move, thus further preventing the harbouring of bacteria.

Professor Stephen Bush, Director of The University of Manchester's Centre for Manufacture, who led the design and production team for the cabinet with Nigel Ball of Ergo Design, said: "As well as direct human contact, MRSA can be passed indirectly to patients via bacteria resting on the surfaces of hospital equipment and furniture contained in wards. However, with the BioKab's specially impregnated surface this cross-contamination is eliminated and germs will not survive."

The BioKab body and surfaces are impregnated at the manufacturing stage with IRGAGUARD® - an inorganic antimicrobial. It works by breaking down and destroying cells of bacteria which come into contact with the cabinet. Silver ion, which is the active ingredient in IRGAGUARD also binds to the DNA of the cell stopping it from spreading. It does not degrade with time and is temperature-stable to well over 500°C.

The Biokab's plastic structure has been shown to kill MRSA, E coli, Salmonella and many other harmful bacteria which come into contact with its surface (see Notes).

Measuring just over 89cm (height) by 48cm (square) the BioKab is moulded in one piece, excluding the simply detachable doors. This feature increases cleanliness by eliminating the crevices and corners in which bacteria can thrive and allows effective steam-cleaning. The BioKab also incorporates a magazine shelf, lockable drawer and a number of gently radiused recesses to hold items such as drinking cups and utensils.

All parts of the cabinet - the body, doors and drawer - are, in fact, hollow cavities, which minimises both material usage (and therefore the cost) and weight. At only 12 kg, this presents the opportunity for each new patient to have a sealed, clean cabinet delivered to their bedside along with their bedlinen at the beginning of their stay.

"The potential for the use of plastics like the ones we have used to create the BioKab in hospital wards to aid in the prevention of the spread and infection of harmful bacteria like MRSA is very promising. Combine this with our soft-edge radiused-corner design and this product sets a new standard for the design and manufacture of future healthcare furniture," says Professor Bush.

For further information:
Simon Hunter, Media Relations Office, telephone: 0161 2758387/07717881569

Notes: -- Pictures available on request

-- The Centre for Manufacture is part of the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering in The University of Manchester's Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

-- The BioKab was patented by NEPPCO Ltd, a network of over 50 companies across the UK, whose Head Office is based in the Centre for Manufacture.

-- The BioKab has been developed in conjunction with several NEPPCO member companies including: Haywood Rotomoulding and ERGO Design.

-- BioKab's Polyethylene is impregnated with Ciba® IRGAGUARD®B5120 which is an inorganic broad spectrum antimicrobial.

-- Silver ion is the active ingredient in IRGAGUARD and is absorbed by the germ and works by interfering with the cell membrane causing the cells to leak and eventually break up. Silver ion also binds to the DNA of the cell disrupting the replication process.

-- Laboratory results confirm that IRGAGUARD impregnated Polyethylene such as the Biokab structure will kill the following range of bacteria, mould and yeast such as: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph. Aur), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteriditis, Legionella pneumophilia, Penicillium species, Aspergillus species. Typically, cultures of E coli, Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA are reduced by factors of over 1,000 to over 10,000 in 24 hours on surfaces cut from the BioKab.

-- The BioKab is being marketed by Brimaid Ltd, one of the UK's leading manufacturers of healthcare products, to whom the patent has now been assigned as part of the exploitation process.

-- Website: http://www.biokab.co.uk


Contact: Simon Hunter
University of Manchester
http://www.manchester.ac.uk