- Title: Hungary hospital coated in anti-bacterial spray in battle against superbugs
- Date: 2nd October 2019
- Summary: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (FILE - DECEMBER 17, 2016) (REUTERS) SUBURBAN TRAINS IN MAINTENANCE BUILDING, RESYSTEN ASSISTANT SPRAYING INSIDE OF TRAIN CAR VARIOUS OF ASSISTANT SPRAYING SEATS AND RAILS INSIDE TRAIN
- Embargoed: 16th October 2019 10:53
- Keywords: Budapest Hungary hospitals hygiene anti-bacterial innovations Resysten
- Location: EGER AND BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
- City: EGER AND BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
- Country: Hungary
- Topics: Science
- Reuters ID: LVA002AZEM3AX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A hospital in northern Hungary has had its entire interior coated with a newly developed anti-bacterial spray that the makers say will prevent the spread of epidemics.
The coating material, developed by Resysten Company in conjunction with scientists from the University of Szeged, contains Titanium dioxide, a substance that is harmless to humans but when exposed to light (natural and artificial), creates a reaction which destroys harmful contamination.
Resysten says the Ferenc Markhot Hospital in the city of Eger is the first hospital ever to be entirely coated in the spray, a process which lasted around three weeks.
"It is the first time in the world that an entire hospital receives this treatment completely. We do not know any other service company which would provide this," said Director of Development for Resysten, Janos Pinter.
Scientists across the globe have been experimenting with such 'photocatalytic coating systems' for decades, but the novelty of the new coating technique is that it remains effective for at least one year after it was applied, is applicable on any surface, and works even under very low light.
"Our system with its continuous operation prevents bacteria and other contamination to take root on the surfaces because that environment continuously resists these contaminations and they cannot exist there," added Pinter.
The hospital in Eger treats approx. 35,000 inpatients a year and in 2018 had a below EU average of 915 infections of which 42 were lethal, but hospital Director, Jozsef Vacity, says that by using the Resysten method the hospital is determined to reduce the infection numbers by 10%.
Resysten, which wants to extend its operations in Europe, hopes that the new method will find its way into the public health care sector and helps reduce hospital infections.
The Resysten coating has previously been applied to public transportation vehicles in Budapest and the eastern town of Debrecen in 2018, with the company regularly monitoring the coated surfaces and re-applying the material annually.
(Production: Krisztina Fenyo, Dominik Starosz) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
