Uniforms and textiles have been highlighted as an area of concern for infection control staff, and therefore, for all staff. In the UK alone, the cost of treating patients who have aquired a hospital infection is costing in the region of £18M.
Amicor aims to provide peace of mind for one area of infection control on the ward - uniforms and textiles. So that staf can get on with concentrating on the more complicated issues at hand.
How do uniforms pose a threat to infection control?
During an eight hour shift, organisms can grow to dangerous levels on fabrics themselves. Once contaminated, the exponential growth of key organisms on un-protected fabrics poses a real threat to infection control.
Changes in Hospital Laundering and Contract Laundering
Hospital laundering provides fresh and completely hygienic uniforms to staff at the beginning of the shift. Unfortunately, not all hospitals can afford to maintain their own laundry and many have already moved to contract suppliers.
Home Laundering - often the only cost effective route
Many nursing staff take care of their own uniform laundering at home. This provides two potential problems for infection control. Domestic washing machines many not always provide the controlled temperature required to sterilise garments to the same standard as hospital laundering. Added to which, it means that used uniforms are taken into the home environment where families and children could be exposed to dangerous organisms.
Amicor's effect in healthcare
Amicor Pure prevents the growth of harmful organisms at source
Amicor is totally preventative. It does not kill organisms but prevents reproduction on fabrics and fibres. For a full summary of Amicor's effect in healthcare please contact us and we will send you our most up to date literature.
Quality Control and Brand Assurance
Only Amicor Approved Suppliers with certified products can supply the Amicor Trade Mark Licensees. Please see the marketing section for details.
Every single product is independently tested for microbial performance against the key organisms, and ceritified by Amicor Research and Testing.
Constant quality control checks take place to ensure production consistency.
The Amicor brand name signifies a hygienic improvement specifically designed for infection control.
Amicor is durable
Amicor will last for the whole 'normal lifetime' of each uniform, providing the only real and lasting microbial protection of any textile route.
Amicor will last for at least 200 washes.
Amicor will last regardless of washing temperature - higher temperatures do not diminish the effect any more than lower temperatures.
Please see the wash test table in the pop up section on the right of this page for proof of Amicor's durability.
Laundering Guidelines
Amicor can be washed at 40 degrees domestically or up to 76 degrees through hospital laundering and maintains the same level of microbial protection.
Depending on the particular fibre blend, there might be more specific washing instructions for particular items. Please check the care label as normal.
Average Garment Lifetime
If a uniform is washed once a week it will last for just under four years. As uniforms are replaced more frequently than this, we claim that Amicor will last for the normal lifetime of the product.
More casual uniforms can also be made from fabrics containing Amicor fibre. Sweatshirts, knitwear, polo shirts, trousers and even shirts can be developed through Amicor Pure Approved Suppliers and Trade Mark Licensees.
Intelligent Amicor Uniforms and Textiles
Amicor fibre is incredibly versatile, soft and comfortable. It is currently being used in nurses and other staff unforms, white coats and theatre gowns.
For more information on Amicor, or to arrange a clinical trial in your hospital, please contact amicor.taf@adityabirla.com
