Microclean - Antibacterial Coating

Helping in the fight against the spread of infection

MicroClean is a new nano technology photocatalytic coating which has been developed to kill bacteria. It has a wide range of possibilities including the application onto door furniture, handrail and balustrading, access control units and even onto full door surfaces.

What does it do?

MicroClean destroys organic compounds such as bacteria, spores, viruses, odours, smoke and pollutants, including MRSA, C.Difficile, e.Coli, SARS, Listeria, Salmonella and bacteria spores. When applied to hard surfaces it will stop contaminants from growing and will reduce  them very quickly. The coating starts to work immediately it is exposed to a source of UV light and continues to work 24 hours a day 365 a year as long as there is a light to "power" it. Tests have shown that colonies of bacteria are destroyed within 24 hours of contact.

How does it work?

When Ultra Violet (UV) light strikes the particles in the coating they are activated and emit electrons. Water molecules nearby are broken down in highly reactive hydroxyl radicals and super oxides. These free radicals create a powerful oxidising reaction and break down organic compounds such as bacteria and viruses into water (H20) and carbon dioxide (CO2) which then evaporate from the surface.

How is it applied?

MicroClean is available from Laidlaw in either of the following forms: As a factory applied coating on any of our ironmongery products. Simply specify MicroClean when ordering standard ironmongery products and we will do the rest. As a spray coating for larger surfaces such as doors. This can be applied on-site to any doorset package and even internal or external walls Unlike other systems, MicroClean does not need extensive curing periods at high temperatures which can limit the materials or products which are suitable for coating.

Hospital infection in the news

In the four years from 2001 to 2005 the number of deaths due to MRSA doubled. The same doubling was observed in the 8 years from 1993 to 2001. Death rates from C.Difficile increased by 69% from 2004 to 2005. These alarming rates of increase in a relatively short time frame have caused this phenomenon to be constantly in the newspapers and our televisions with little reported success in tackling the issue. There is no "quick fix" and the answer will undoubtedly lie in a combination of programmes to cover all possible sources of infection. Whilst a major body of opinion is concentrating on the area around a hospital are major contributors to infection transmission from one surface to another.

Active methods of ensuring hygienic surfaces includw regular cleaning with biocides and hand washing regimes but these depend on diligence by operatives and members of the public and have been shown to cause the spread of bacteria in the worst cases.

An alternative approach is to use passive systems, especially for surfaces not directly in contact with patients such as doors, walls, door furniture and equipment.