Improving the effectiveness of antimicrobial wipes in healthcare settings
Professor Jean-Yves Maillard’s research into the effectiveness of antimicrobial wipes has led to improved infection control measures, resulted in a new international standard for testing pre-wetted anti-bacterial wipes and led to significant commercial growth for a leading manufacturer of anti-bacterial cleaning products.
A recent paper in the Lancet stated that 1.27 million people died worldwide because of antimicrobial resistant infections in 2019. Preventing these infections is more important than ever, and clean surfaces in healthcare settings are a key part of the solution.
Antimicrobial wipes are used to decontaminate surfaces in healthcare to reduce the risk of patients getting infections. Not much was known about the effectiveness of these anti-bacterial products, and which were the most effective in destroying bacterial pathogens. There was also no evidence about how wipes should be used in clinical settings for effective infection control.
In 2006, the Welsh Government approached Professor Maillard, following his extensive research expertise on antimicrobial biocides and microbial resistance, to investigate the effectiveness of antimicrobial wipes for infection control in Welsh intensive care units. This led to the development of a comprehensive test protocol measuring the efficacy and risk associated with wipe-based products.