A spin out company from the University of Leeds has developed a self-disinfecting device known as Surfaceskins that is said to reduce bacteria levels by more than 90%, following seven years of research and development.
By incorporating the specially-engineered textile in a device designed to be used on hospital doors instead of the traditional aluminium door plate, that part of the door that people push to open it – scientists aim to bolster hand hygiene.
Hospital doors are recognized as a key weak link in hygiene because of the number of times people touch them.
It takes just one person with dirty hands to pass through a door to put everyone else who follows at risk of cross contamination.
Surfaceskins antibacterial door pads work by dispensing a small quantity of alcohol gel onto the pad when it is pushed, to disinfect the surface ready for the next person to use the door.
This low-cost device, which incorporates three separate nonwoven textiles is designed to be replaced after seven days or one thousand pushes, whichever comes sooner.
