A new weapon is being deployed in the battle against the spread of infectious disease that could save the insurance industry millions of pounds in lost liability claims, according to a leading microbiologist.
Dr Richard Hasting, a microbiologist for BioCote, believes the potential for people being infected with deadly bacteria like MRSA or E.coli can be dramatically reduced if antimicrobial silver technology is more widely adopted in environments where there is a high risk of disease spreading.
“Campylobacter – the most common form of food poisoning – is estimated to cost the UK economy £500m a year, while the cost of all food poisoning cases is thought to exceed £1.5 billion annually. On top of that, the NHS estimates infections contracted by patients in UK hospitals cost it around £1 billion a year.” says Dr Hastings.
“The impact this can have on the insurance community can be severe. Costs can come from claims as wide-ranging as clinical negligence; personal injury claims where tour operators, airlines, cruise ship operators, hotels or other holiday providers are responsible for food poisoning; or general liability claims against food manufacturers distributing contaminated products.
“With this in mind, I believe more drastic action needs to be taken to combat the spread of infectious disease. Incorporating BioCote’s unique antimicrobial silver technology into products that are used in environments where hygiene is critical is proven to reduce bacteria by 99%.”
Whilst BioCote technology is a relatively new concept that has its roots in the healthcare industry, silver is a natural antimicrobial that has been used for centuries because of its ability to preserve against spoilage.
Highly effective against a wide range of disease causing bacteria and fungi, BioCote can be adopted into a wide range of products at the manufacturing stage, from chairs and tables, to curtains and carpets, light switches, food work surfaces and chopping boards. This built in protection lasts for the lifetime of the product, making it ideal for hygiene critical environments to reduce the risk of disease spreading.
Concluded Dr Hastings: “Antimicrobial silver technology could therefore be a valuable tool for risk mitigation. My advice for any insurer with clients in high risk environments, like cruise ships, catering establishments, schools or care homes for example, is to get them to think seriously about adopting BioCote technology now.”
05 July 2010
BioCote® proven to work in real-life environments.
As experts in our field, BioCote Ltd is leading the way in research and evidence-based studies to demonstrate the antimicrobial performance of BioCote® protected products not only in lab tests but also in real life environments.
