Contaminated Concrete in Hospitals, Medical Centres and Aged-Care Facilities Spreading Bacteria

Nov. 23, 2011 - PRLog -- Concrete is an extremely porous medium allowing bacteria to breed in microscopic air pockets that can spread harmful bacteria such as E.Coli, Listeria, Salmonella and Golden Staph.
If bacteria is growing unchecked under floor coverings or on exposed concrete, it will lead to bad odours and potentially lethal environments, particularly in high risk areas such as hospitals, medical centres and aged-care facilities.
While many believe concrete is an impervious substrate – architects, engineers and builders know it can:
•   Trap odours that are impossible to remove permanently with current technology
•   Host bacterial contaminants affecting environmental health and safety
Built-in Protection
By applying a product during a concrete pour (or prior to occupation) to seal the concrete, architects, engineers and builders can give clients peace of mind by protecting the building structure against:
•   Reduced air quality through release of micro-bacterial pollutants into the environment from unsealed concrete that can potentially affect the occupational health and safety of a building’s inhabitants (particularly relevant in high risk environments such as hospitals, medical centres and aged-care facilities)
Protecting the Environment
If concrete isn’t treated during construction, it will allow contaminants and moisture to penetrate. This causes internal degradation of steel reinforcing thereby reducing a building’s life. Microbial spores can grow within the matrix of the concrete and on its surface, therefore impacting on a healthy work and living environment.
The following are ways to minimise harmful bacteria from breeding in concrete:
1.   Clean concrete with a product able to penetrate concrete to a minimum depth of 100mm to kill bacteria and odour.
2.   Seal concrete with a biocide active to a minimum depth of 100mm with a kill rate of 99.99% to ensure a bacterial barrier.
3.   Ensure the product used is government registered with no VOC/VOS, which means it’s safe to use during application, resulting in less down-time for busy centres.
4.   After concrete is treated, regular cleaning of floor coverings is all that is needed to control bacteria.
Unfortunately, most concrete sealing products aim to fix the problem at a surface level and don’t penetrate to the depth required to kill bacteria. These products often emit toxic chemicals and odours which cause more problems for at-risk environments including hospitals and aged-care facilities. It’s very important to only use products that are scientifically researched and tested and have government registration to ensure peace of mind.
In today’s commercial environments, concrete is the primary product for floor and walling systems. Ensuring concrete’s longevity and usability remain at an optimal level throughout its life span is environmentally responsible in today’s health conscious society. That’s why more architects and builders are recommending that hospitals, medical centres and aged-care facilities protect themselves from potential health risks. Killing bacteria in concrete with an effective concrete treatment provides a major defence against bacterial infection and offensive odours (off gassing).
Deflecta (http://www.deflecta.com.au) produces world-first environmentally friendly concrete sealant that helps to protect the health of staff, residents and visitors in hospitals, medical-centres and aged-care facilities.
Deflecta Stabilizer Antimicrobial is the only Australian government-registered concrete sealant available that has zero VOC/VOS emissions, meaning it’s safe to use in hospitals, medical centres and aged-care facilities.
Using Deflecta’s Antimicrobial product means facilities can reduce the risk of bacteria such as E.Coli, Golden Staph, Listeria and Salmonella by killing bacteria on the surface and within the matrix of the concrete.
Deflecta Stablilizer Antimicrobial is the only Australian Government certified and registered product (Registration No: APVMA : 60195/48699) able to penetrate concrete, remain active to a depth of 100mm, kill bacteria and seal concrete against further ingress of waste liquids. This is world-first technology, manufactured and produced in Australia with zero VOC/VOS emissions, meaning it’s safe to use and handle.
Deflecta products are backed by scientific research and government registration. Architects and builders Australia-wide recommend their use in high-risk environments.
Some of the facilities that Deflecta products are currently protecting include:
Hospitals:
Belmont Private Hospital Qld, Broome Hospital WA, Gold Coast University Hospital Qld, Royal Women’s Hospital Vic, St John of God Hospital Vic, St Vincents Hospital Child Care Centre Vic, Warragul Hospital Vic
Aged-Care Facilities:
Grace McKellar Nursing home Vic, Milford Grange Retirement Community Qld, Moreton Shores Independent Living Units Qld
Animal Facilities:
Detector Dog Facility for Australian Customs & Border Protection Service Vic, RSPCA Bendigo, RSPCA HQ Qld, Wangaratta Equine Centre at Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE
Universities and Research Centres:
Australian Institute of Sport Canberra, National Centre for Synchrotron Science Vic, CSIRO Clayton, La Trobe University Biosciences Research Centre Vic, La Trobe University Library Vic, Mater Christi College
Supermarket Chains: Aldi Australia Vic, NSW, Qld
Car Parks: ING Waterfront City North East Car Park at Docklands Vic
For more information on how the Deflecta Stabilizer Antimicrobial product could protect your environment log-on to http://www.deflecta.com.au

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Deflecta Stablilizer Antimicrobial is the only Australian Government certified and registered product (Registration No: APVMA : 60195/48699) able to penetrate concrete, remain active to a depth of 100mm, kill bacteria and seal concrete against further ingress of waste liquids. This is world-first technology, manufactured and produced in Australia with zero VOC/VOS emissions, meaning it’s safe to use and handle.
Deflecta products are backed by scientific research and government registration. Architects and builders Australia-wide recommend their use in high-risk environments.
Visit http://www.deflecta.com.au for more information about reducing risk, protecting concrete and improving environmental health in hospitals, medical centres and aged-care facilities.