Silver Saviour Shows Signs of Stopping Bug.

5 Nov 2003

A Staffordshire company has launched a new division in a bid to tackle killer superbugs in hospitals. Stafford-based Addmaster has developed a plastic additive which drastically reduces the presence of mutant bacteria which can cause illness and death in patients.
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) nicknamed the superbug has become resistant to normal antibiotics used in hospitals.
Potentially fatal MRSA infections usually develop in the very ill, the elderly and people with open wounds, and it is estimated up to 100,000 patients are affected in the UK every year.
But in tests Addmaster's Biomaster product removed nearly all MRSA microbes by releasing silver particles and the bug shoes no signs of becoming resistant to it.
Paul Morris, managing director at the company, said: "There is a 30 per cent increase year on year in deaths related to MRSA. "The feedback we are getting from our customers is that this is a life saving product."
Addmaster now supplies the Biomaster additive to companies which make plastic mattress covers and hospital floor and wall coverings.

MRSA is becoming increasingly resistant to ne antibiotics, but Mr Morris believes this will not happen with silver particles.

When the additive is mixed with certain plastics, such as PVC, the resulting material emits electrically charged silver ions which cause MRSA microbes to collapse.
He said :"Silver has been used for more than 3000 years to keep water fresh., There are no signs it is any less effective today that it was years ago. "It has taken us four years to get to this stage, and there coverings we put in then are still working we haven't even been able to determine a lifespan."
Health experts say the most effective way to control the spread of MRSA is for hospital staff to wash their hands thoroughly on a regular basis.
But Mr Morris said the Biomaster additive gave hospitals a "safety net".
"UK hospitals are very hygienic, but if even only one per cent of cleaning is missed it could kill people," he said.
Addmaster is now set to launch an antibacterial division, which it expects to achieve sales of more than £2 million in three years.
The company will be taking on three specialists to deal with the branding, sales and development of the new product range.
Dr John Gray, consultant microbiologist at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, said "Although the main weapon against MRSA is scrupulous hygiene, this is an interesting concept which appears to have a good basis in scientific fact.
"The proof will come with further specialist testing under clinical conditions."
Addmaster won its third award in a year last month when it received the Visa Business Card Award for Enterprise and was presented with £5000 from Richard Branson.
Mr Morris formed Addmaster in 2000 with the help of a £5000 nest egg from his grandmother, and the company now has an annual turnover of more than £1.25 million.

Source - The Sentinel, November 2003

 

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