The first two decades of the 21st century have presented the world’s healthcare industry with two catastrophes: a global pandemic that pushed care systems to the point of collapse and ever-worsening global climate change that is causing natural disasters, threatening communities, and making everything more difficult.
Considering it’s an industry built on responding to emergencies, it should come as no surprise that the healthcare sector is finding new ways to respond to these challenges—right down to how their hospitals and clinics are built and maintained. Part of that effort includes using environmentally friendly materials that help keep facilities cleaner.
Enter Microban International—home to two of the most trusted and well-known global brands in the antimicrobial, odor control, and continuously active disinfection and sanitization markets. Their proactive solutions keep products cleaner by preventing microbial problems before they start. For more than 40 years, Microban has been innovating to produce technologies that enhance medical products all over the globe.
Microban® technologies are especially useful in healthcare settings. “Our technologies keep treated surfaces cleaner between cleanings and are a complement to good hygiene practices,” says Michael Ruby, president at Microban.
While disinfectants wipe out bacteria on surfaces, they are only a temporary solution. It takes just moments for bacteria to begin propagating on an untreated surface after cleaning. “You start over. That untreated surface starts to bloom again,” Ruby says.
Microban technologies work 24/7 to cap the number of microbes that grow on a surface. Treated surfaces aren’t sterile, but microbe populations can be kept in the hundreds rather than the millions. This not only supports regular cleaning and disinfection routines but also extends the longevity of products and surfaces. These solutions can be engineered into practically any product or surface during manufacture to deliver permanent product protection against degrading microbial growth—including a broad-spectrum of bacteria and fungi.
It’s solutions like these that lead to cleaner health care environments and more positive patient experiences. Ruby says Microban antimicrobial technologies should be considered for all high-touch, high-traffic, and cleanliness-critical areas in health care spaces. “By keeping products and surfaces cleaner, built-in antimicrobial solutions deliver added peace of mind for health care workers and patients. These technologies should also be considered for products that can replace single-use items and those that are harder to keep clean.” ...
