Can small infections kill us?
A Hungarian innovation may save millions of lives
Superbugs claim at least as many lives as cancer, an 30-50% of infections could be prevented with continuous disinfection. But thanks to a Hungarian startup it should be simple to eliminate any kind of epidemic. Everyone should have access to photocatalytic coating.
Worldwide, superbugs cause a death toll as large as cardiovascular problems and cancer. This is no wonder, since globally over 1,5 million patients suffer from infections caught during hospital treatment. Many hospitals do not perform the necessary due to the high costs, even if treating these infections is similarly expensive.
Most of these cases could be prevented thanks to an innovative Hungarian solution with which the hazardous germs can be kept at bay.
The mentioned sicknesses usually appear in the form of wound infection, septicemia or pneumonia, but also as lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, meningitis, osteomyelitis and arthritis. Half of these specific epidemics usually develop in intensive care wards and intensive perinatal centers while the other half in emergency units.
The development of healthcare-associated infections worldwide is one of the most burning issues of patient safety. According to the World health Organization (WHO) 5-10% of all patients in the western world catch infections during treatment, while in developing countries this number may exceed 25%. In Europe out of 5 million infections, fifty thousand (1%) are fatal, and another 135 thousand (2,7%) contribute to the patient’s death.
Experts claim that multi-resistant bacteria are found everywhere. The prevalence of MRSA is increasing throughout the EU, this is a “simple” Staphylococcus aureus that can resist penicillin derivatives (methicillin/oxacillin), recently VISA also reared its head, this is another Staphylococcus aureus which is resistant to Vancomycin antibiotics. It is currently treatable with increased dosage, but this can lead to severe side effects. This includes MECO, which is an enhanced version of E.coli, but we must also look out for VRE, MENB, MKLE, MACI, MPAE and MSTM. These days MRSA is the common cause for the outbreak of an epidemic, against which there are antibiotics currently under development.
Even hospitals that scan patients for MRSA cannot avoid infections. Especially since microbiological sampling is rarer for outpatients and primary care. The inadequate knowledge of hand disinfection protocols is considered a primary cause of infection during healthcare worldwide.
Although there is scientific evidence that proper hand hygiene practices could prevent 20-30% of nosocomial infections, if not for the fact that many facilities save on the disinfectant costs as well.
The fact is that MRSA is a droplet infection, spreading from person to person via contact, which is easy in places where there are people. These are social spaces, mass transportation devices, keyboards, door handles, airplanes, anything a person can touch or have contact with.
The solution is simple
The Resysten antibacterial protective coating
- Can be used on any surface (paint, wood, metal, plastic, fabric)
- Insures long-term protection
- Kills bacteria strains and neutralizes viruses, prevents the spread of epidemics
- Significantly reduces VOC (volatile organic compound) omissions
- Neutralizes endotoxins
- Kills fungi, moulds and their spores
- Significantly reduces NH3, N2O, CO2, CH4 levels, air purification effect
- Strictly environment friendly, consists of natural ingredients
How does it work?
Sunlight gives the titanium-dioxide Resysten coating photocatalytic properties, which means that light helps it neutralize harmful substances in the environment.
Titanium-dioxide is a naturally occurring metal that is used worldwide as a safe and registered (E171) food additive. The food industry often uses it as white colouring, it can be found in chewing gum, toothpaste and other products used daily.
In the presence of light the photo-catalytic properties of titanium-dioxide destroys the cell walls and membranes of bacteria, begins a reaction with the cells components which disable the bacterias activation, and leads to their destruction and chemical breakdown or mineralization.
The photocatalytic coating creates a super oxid anion, which is 3x more effective against bacteria, viruses and fungi then chlorine and 1,5x more powerful then ozone.
The method is so effective that Resysten coating was utilized in everyday traffic conditions 167 DKV CAF buses powered by Volánbusz ZRT in Debrecen, and also in a food industry environment. You can read about this in our next article.
original source: http://www.ma.hu/tudomany/247427/Egy_innovativ_magyar_megoldas_milliok_eletet_mentheti_meg
