Milton Keynes, UK. 22 November, 2011: - Aerte, the air disinfection specialists, today announced the launch of a new revolutionary air disinfection unit, the AD 2.0, specifically designed and proven to continuously eliminate airborne Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI) from clinical settings - including MRSA, c-difficile and Norovirus.
The wall mounted system can disinfect any room up to a maximum volume of 300m3 and has been proven to not only remove virtually all airborne pathogens[1], but also to target bacteria and viruses present on surfaces (over 20% reduction on most materials) [2]. What’s more, each unit can be controlled remotely, with automatic notifications alerting staff when the cartridges have run out and on the unit’s current status (e.g. working, sleeping, off) - making monitoring of this system very easy and largely labour free.
The unit is designed to be used with a consumable cartridge containing a reagent, which is ionised and reacted with traces of ozone, resulting in the generation of hydroxyl ‘free radicals’.
Hydroxyl radicals work by neutralising any dangerous bacteria and viruses, altering their molecular structures so that they become nonviable - neutralising 99.99%. The reason the process is so effective is because hydroxyl radicals are highly reactive molecules missing a hydrogen atom, meaning they can traverse an entire room virtually instantly (in under a second), continuing its search until it encounters a hydrogen atom - forcibly removing it from any organic material and inexorably changing the compounds molecular structure.
Prof. Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, and an independent advisor to Aerte, said: “Over the last 10-years we have made enormous strides in tackling the spread and prevalence of HCAIs. However, whilst large scale operations and protocols are now in place to ensure the cleanliness of a hospital’s clinical surfaces, no universal strategy has been trialed for the air - leaving it as the last major source of transmission. By using products that eliminate airborne pathogens we will then have a complete solution where all possible causes of transmission have been addressed.”
Javier Segura, CEO of Aerte: “We launched the AD2.0 as we realised there was no ‘active protection’ within healthcare environments from airborne infection - by using free radicals we eliminate pathogens as they appear, vastly reducing the risk or these preventable illnesses . The cost of HCAI safety programmes now pay for themselves by reducing the number of bed days and staff sick days, so there is little excuse for airborne transmission routes not being eliminated in the coming years. As pathogens continue to mutate its now not enough for infection control teams to ensure the safety of surfaces - if we want to address the risks of nosocomial infections and increase the safety of hospitals, airborne routes of infection must be also be eliminated.”
About Aerte:
Aerte (formerly Inov8) produce a range of disinfection products for both the consumer and trade marketplaces, with a particular focus on advanced air disinfection systems. The Company has harnessed its unique understanding of atmospheric chemistry and the Hydroxyl Radicals in particular, to deliver products and services that ensure air quality, whilst reducing the risk of infectious diseases.
Aerte embraces a unique blend of skills and resources, from a comprehensive understanding of microbiology and complex atmospheric chemistry through the key product design and engineering skills.
The company employs some of the World’s most dedicated scientists and engineers at its research and manufacturing base in Milton Keynes. Aerte is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mid States plc, an AIM Listed Company.
http://aerte.com/
Media Contacts:
Tristan Jervis, Director at De Facto Communications,
t.jervis@defacto.com, 0207 861 3019
Or
Alex Heeley, Senior Account Manager at De Facto Communications, a.heeley@defacto.com, 0207 861 3043
