Healthcare - Issues & Situation

Amicor provides the most effective and durable 'intelligent' fibre for professional microbial control across all textile materials used in the healthcare environment. The fibre is supported by a full quality assurance programme with independent testing of all commercial products.

Uniforms and textiles have been recognised as being one of the areas of concern for infection control today. With the reduction of available finance, hospital laundering has been in decline over the last ten years. The days when all staff were provided with a sterile uniform every day are disappearing fast and many of todays' hospital staff are now responsible for washing their own uniforms domestically.

Our research has also highlighted that the uniform itself is seen as an area where harmful organisms can grow exponentially if the textile material is not protected and could be adding to cross-contamination from one pateint to another.

Amicor cuts down the potential risk of cross-infection via uniforms and other textiles, reducing the potential bio-burden on the ward. It contains an organic antimicrobial additive, Irgacare, that prevents the growth of harmful bacteria at source and is recognised as being the most effective in controlling the specific bacteria that cause hygiene problems in hospitals.


Q&A

We believe that Amicor is the leading technology for uniform protection against harmful organisms and has provided consistent, high quality results in independent research. Here are the questions and answers that we are typically asked about Amicor's technology and effectiveness.


How does Amicor protect uniforms and other textiles and garments worn in healthcare?

Amicor is an anti-bacterial fibre that is woven inside textile materials to provide protection from the growth of harmful microbes. It has been desgned to protect the entire fabric and to be an incredibly versatile and effective fibre. 

Amicor prevents the exponetial growth of harmful bacteria on the surface and throughout the whole material of a uniform. Amicor's effect will last for the duration of the shift and will last until the uniform has been laundered 200 times.


How is Amicor Fibre made?

Amicor is a fibre with a durable anti-microbial functionality that is added during the fibre production process. Using 'late injection technology' the bacteriostatic additive is incorporated which disperses finely and is held in micro reservoirs within the fibre structure.


What are the benefits of Amicor's 'late injection technology' in this area?

The fibre has a 'slow diffusion action' that gradually releases the anti-microbial additive and replenishes the fibre surface, providing effective protection to the whole uniform. Amicor's slow diffusion is what provides the incredible durability inherent to all Amicor uniforms and textile materials. No other materials are made with such lasting performance.


What is Amicor's durability and value?

Amicor does not have a fragile surface finish that washes off after ten to fifty wash cycles - it will last for at least 200 washes and is therefore the most effective antimicrobial material available and provides uniforms with a real, lasting value.


Can Amicor's performance be affected by body fluids on the fabric surface?

This protection zone remains active even with body fluids on the fabric surface, whereas other antimicrobial methods can be de-activated by body fluids, making them ineffective. Amicor's effect is not water soluble or affected by high temperatures. It cannot be washed or worn away easily and remains effective. 


Can independent quality assurance be provided?

 - Every Amicor fabric is tested independently to measure against the key organisms that pose a threat to infection control.

 - Key organisms have been identified in detailed guidelines and agreed with practising infection control nurses in the UK.

 - Amicor products have been tested and approved as consistently effective against the five major organisms considered to be threatening, as well as a hghly comprehensive list of other bacteria. For the full list please contact us.

 - All products are tested using Independent and Internationally agreed testing protocols.


How can we tell which garments have Amicor inside?

Amicor garments will be identified by a small blue tab in the side seam. These labels will only be provided once fabrics have been through our Quality Assurance testing programme and only to Amicor Approved Suppliers and Trade Mark Licensees. (See marketing section for more information.)
 

What are the wearer and care benefits of Amicor garments?

- Amicor garments will remain fully protected while they are being worn and in between laundering.

- All Amicor fabrics and uniforms remain protected even when washed at 40 degrees in a normal domestic wash.

- Garments have been fully tested to withstand 200 hospital laundry cycles, temperature does not affect the durability of Amicor

- Amicor uniforms actually last longer as they are not being worn out by high temperature washing or microbial degardation.

- Amicor Pure fibre is always cotton spun and is automaticaly softer to wear, wearers have noticed an increase in comfort and ease.


What are the cost benefits of Amicor Pure?

By specifying Amicor, hospital trusts can guarantee to improve not only textile and uniform hygiene and consistency, but also provide cost benefits to hospital laundering and to staff.

Amicor uniforms can be issued without the need for further staff training - uniforms can simply be replaced as normal and each uniform will be protected for it's normal lifetime.

And, most importantly, Amicor's durable effect provides a consistent approach towards patient care that could reduce the larger costs in infection treatment. 


Understanding the issues

Amicor aims to provide peace of mind for one particular aspect of infection control on the ward. So that you can concentrate on the more complicated issues at hand.


Through direct collaboration with infection control nurses and their suppliers, Amicor Approved Suppliers and Licensees can asssist you to replace currently non-protected textiles with Amicor quality-assured uniforms.

For more information contact amicor.taf@adityabirla.com