According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 2 million patients nationwide contract bacterial infections in hospitals each year – and 90,000 of them die. Additionally, Infection Control Today estimates that hospital-acquired infections produce an additional $4.5 Billion in annual liability claims. Here are some of the primary applications within the healthcare sector:
Uniforms/bedding
Textiles are among the leading sources of cross-contamination at hospitals – including hospital staff uniforms and the approximately 19 pounds of textiles generated by each hospital bed per day. Goldshield formulas are easy to apply to textiles, either by padding or exhausting onto the material during the finishing stage of production. In addition, the formula can be sold as a spray to be applied to textile products as an after-market application; once it dries, it becomes permanently affixed and begins its protective activities. In the case of textiles Goldshield formulas have demonstrated effectiveness for 50 washings.
Equipment
Typical disinfectants or inhibitors used in hospitals generally provide no more than 10 minutes to two hours of residual protection. The Goldshield formulas provide months and in some cases years of surface protection. That residual component permits these formulas to stand alone in the world of biocide effectiveness and protection.
To prevent hospital-acquired infections, Goldshield technology could be used as the last step in the washing-cleaning process in central supply for equipment to be autoclaved. This addition to sterilization procedures could lead to considerable longer shelf life for sterilized operating-room kits. Wrapping operating trays in packaging material treated with Goldshield antimicrobial would reduce the amount of paper product required for wrapping – resulting in cost savings and a reduction in waste produced.
Additional uses:
• In nursing and assisted living facilities, beyond the obvious infection-reducing applications, Goldshield could be used in the laundry and in clean-up of facilities to help eliminate odors from the environment.
• In the Institutional and Industrial (I&I) sector, Goldshield would have significant application in combating “sick building syndrome” – acute health symptoms caused by microorganisms such as viruses, mold, mildew and fungi. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has estimated that 70 million American workers are exposed to office environments where this problem is present.
• Additional segments of the healthcare industry where Goldshield technology would find numerous applications include clinics, infirmaries and ambulatory care clinics, as well as veterinary centers
