An innovative hygienic door handle proven to kill 99.99% of germs has been launched by PHS Washrooms to help combat a rise in spreadable infections and viruses.
Norovirus cases in the UK surged to a five-year high in 2012 and the winter vomiting virus was responsible for closing hundreds of hospital wards. MRSA also continues to pose a serious threat to public health and places a strain on healthcare services.
Recent reports show a total of 131 million days were lost because of sickness absence in 2011 and the 2012 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) survey reports the average cost of sickness absence per employee is £600. This represents an average yearly loss of 6.8 days for each employee.
PHS Washrooms is leading the fight back with Sterihandle, a revolutionary door handle that reduces the spread of infectious diseases. SteriHandle is coated with the antibacterial technology of SteriTouch which harnesses the natural sterilising properties of silver. Available in both push and pull options, SteriHandle is permanently fixed to the door and incorporates a replaceable component serviced every six months.
In independent trials, it achieved an impressive 99.99% reduction of MRSA and E.coli within 10 minutes, reducing the number of organisms typically found on a door handle from over 140,000 to less than 10 in the same time period.
Keri Reynolds, marketing manager at PHS Washrooms, said: “Up to one million people a year are thought to catch the debilitating norovirus bug which, along with many other viruses and bacteria, can be spread by touching infected door handles.
“SteriHandle maintains a safer, cleaner and more hygienic surface and the antimicrobial coating kills bacteria quickly at the point of transmission, reducing the risk of illness.
“Door handles are a risk area, providing a habitat for a high amount of pathogenic germs, such as MRSA, E.coli and salmonella, which not only cause sickness, but can be potentially lethal, especially for vulnerable people in hospitals and care homes.
“The introduction of SteriHandle will reduce cross contamination, not just within washrooms but throughout a whole building, improving hygiene for staff and visitors.”