6 / 8
06
Test results
Bio trunking has demonstrated effectiveness
against:
Methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA): an antibiotic resistant,
opportunist pathogen that can survive on surfaces within the hospital environment.
Klebsiella pneumoniae
: an opportunist pathogen affecting people with
a weakened immune system.
Streptococcus pyogenes
: tonsillitis, scarlet fever, necrotising fasciitis
(the ‘flesh-eating bug’).
Vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus faecalis: E.faecalis
: a concern when antibiotic
resistance is acquired.
Escherichia coli
: All of us are colonised by
E.coli
in our gut but this bacterium can
cause infections if it is transferred to a wound or a different part of the body causing
severe food-associated illness.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
: a common bacterium found in water and other
environments and is associated with burns infections, medical device infections and
food spoilage.
Acinetobacter baumanii
: is associated with HAI and is often resistant to antibiotics.
Bacillus subtilis
is a spore forming bacterium with the ability to form resistant spores
that cause a problem for cleaning and disinfection.
Salmonella
: the Salmonella species cause food-borne illness.
Legionella
: Legionellosis is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhalation of
infected aerosols, for example via air conditioning systems.
Lactobacilli are essentially non-pathogenic: they are often used as probiotics. Some
species cause spoilage, for example in the brewing industry.
Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum
:, associated with respiratory infection.
The treated curved profile (Sample 2) showed excellent control of both MRSA and Klebsiella Pneumoniae with a greater than
99.9% reduction in bacteria compared to the untreated flat profile (Sample 1). The bacteria grew on the untreated sample.
WHITE PAPER
Joanna Verran is Professor of Microbiology in
the School of Biology, Chemistry and Health
Science at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Her research is interdisciplinary, involving
collaboration with materials scientists, polymer
and dental technologists and surface engineers
focusing on the interactions occurring between
microorganisms and inert surfaces. In 2008,
Professor Verran wrote a 6-page White Paper on
the effectiveness of silver ion pregnated
antimicrobial trunking for Marshall-Tufflex. Here
are a few extracts from that paper:
“In the hospital environment, patients are
particularly susceptible to infection, thus
reduction in the transfer of microorganisms
directly from person to person and indirectly via
inanimate objects, is a key objective. The
microorganisms present may also be more
resistant to antibiotics.
“… ‘silver ions’ …. exert a bactericidal effect at
very low concentrations. Unlike antibiotics,
which have specific targets present in microbial
cells thus demonstrating ‘selective toxicity’ …
silver, like other biocides, is toxic to multiple
components of bacterial cell metabolism. These
include damage to the bacterial cell wall and
membrane permeability.
“… damage leads to blockage of transport and
enzyme systems, alterations of proteins, … and
binding of microbial nucleic acid, which prevents
protein synthesis and cell division.
“… rapid or sustained release is important …
demonstrated by impregnated surfaces where
the silver is mobile and essentially renewable to
the surface. Coatings might, in contrast, be lost
TEST RESULTS:
Marshall-Tufflex Report 2709051
LABORATORY:
Thomson Research Associates Inc., Ontario, Canada
TEST ORGANISM:
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Quantitative Assessment of Activity – ISO 22196:2007
MRSA
Concentration of starting inoculum 4.94 x 10
5
CFU/mL
Sample Description
Number of
Log Value
R = [log(B/C)]
% Survival
bacteria recovered
1. Flat profile – Blue Tape, White PVC –
7.19 x 10
6
6.9
------
------
untreated control
2. Curved profile – Red Tape, White PVC –
<2.00 x 10
1
<1.3
>5.6
<0.1%
Treated with Ultra-Fresh CA-16