Germs are everywhere, a fact of life. Also known as microbes, bacteria, “bugs” and now even “superbugs,” various types of germs live within us, on us and all around us.
Germs in the workplace
As workers move through shared workstations, research suggests an increasing need to prevent them from sharing harmful bacteria.
- One study found more than 10 million germs on the average desk.
- According to another study, 72% of people report going to work despite being sick.
- About 80% of infections can be transmitted by touch.
- Workers in open plan offices reported taking 63% more sick days than those in private offices, according to a 2011 research project.
The transition from assigned “I spaces” to shared “we spaces” globally has created opportunity for the intelligent, strategic use of antimicrobials in support of wellbeing.
Deploying antimicrobial materials provides one potential way to reduce microbe levels. A wide range of antimicrobial technologies is available in a wide variety of consumable and durable products today, from household cleaners and toothpaste to clothing and toys. Because there’s such a complex array of antimicrobial options, it’s important to understand the underlying technologies and their potential applications for workplace environments.
UNDERSTANDING ANTIMICROBIALS
Antimicrobials are generally thought of as chemical technologies, but they can include radiation and surface textures, as well. They affect microorganisms by inhibiting or altering any or all of four cellular functions:
1) Cell wall synthesis
2) Protein synthesis
3) Cell membrane functions
4) Nucleic acid synthesis (genetic code)
Many cellular activities under each of these four functions can be targeted by an antimicrobial. Many researchers believe that targeting multiple functions decreases the risk of a microorganism developing resistance.
ANTIMICROBIALS FOR WORK ENVIRONMENTS
The transition from assigned “I spaces” to shared “we spaces” globally has created opportunity for the intelligent, strategic use of antimicrobials in support of wellbeing. Among the array of antimicrobial options, several have potential for work environments.
Metal and metal ions
Silver and copper have a long history as antimicrobials, as evidenced by Greek, Egyptian and Roman accounts as far back as 2200 BC. Both metals were used to store and treat drinking water, and also made into antiseptic salve. The antimicrobial action for both elements is in the ionic form and can act in multiple ways. Silver is typically applied by adding silver ions to a carrier material, such as clay, which is in turn added to the base material. Copper is used in both the raw metallic form and as oxides added to base materials.
Botanical-based extracts
Many essential oils found in plants possess some level of antimicrobial action. Studies have shown that they attack microbes by making the cell membranes permeable. Bay, cinnamon, clove and thyme have been identified as the most potent types. The use of extracts in consumable products such as cleaners and wipes is well established, and the transition to durable material such as plastics is underway.
Surface topography
Certain surface topographies have been borrowed from nature as nonchemical antimicrobials. One of particular interest is Sharklet® which is a surface comprised of millions of microscopic diamonds arranged into a distinct texture based on natural sharkskin. Instead of killing microbes, the surface creates an inhospitable environment that inhibits their growth.
Additional technologies
There are many other antimicrobial technologies available in the market, and new ones are continually emerging. As research accelerates, knowledge on antimicrobials and their impacts is rapidly expanding and changing.
APPLYING ANTIMICROBIALS
The use of antimicrobials can be challenging because it seems counter to improving materials chemistry. In principle, all antimicrobials should be “unsustainable” because they negatively affect another organism. This leads to the tension of managing individual health and community wellbeing.
The key to balancing this tension is making smart choices about how and where to use antimicrobials.
80% of infectious diseases can be transmitted by touch.
MOST FREQUENTLY TOUCHED SURFACES
Most frequently touched surfaces feature antimicrobial protection killing 99% of bacteria. per nanonbiomatters testing
Getting smart about antimicrobials
To make informed and intelligent decisions, consider:
- Composition—allchemical, naturally derived or plant-based?
- Amount—appropriate or overkill?
- Probability of touch—often or seldom?
- Marketing claims—factbased or hype?
Application
Selecting and applying an antimicrobial is a balancing act between the base materials, how they are processed and formed, the desired effectiveness and durability of the antimicrobial, and the ultimate product performance. Some technologies are added into the base material, others are applied as post-production sprays or coatings. These application methods, in turn, present lifecycle choices around managing the materials during application, in use and at end of life.
Amount
It’s easy to think that the objective of using an antimicrobial is to obliterate everything on a surface. Indiscriminate mass elimination of microbes, however, is unnecessary and even potentially harmful. As Dr. Michael Schmidt, professor and vice chairman of Microbiology and Immunology at Medical University of South Carolina, explains, the goal of deploying antimicrobial materials into the built environment is to lower the bio-load to a level at which the body can fight it off on its own. This creates the opportunity to have different antimicrobial levels and/or technologies for environments such as offices, where most people are healthy, and environments such as hospitals where people are sick and have compromised immune systems.
Probability of touch
Because approximately 80% of infections can be transmitted through touch, the application of antimicrobials is well suited to shared spaces such as classrooms, public spaces and office environments for mobile workers. Some parts of workplace products are touched more frequently than others and this, in turn, creates higher bio-loads, which can increase the possibility of coming in contact with harmful germs. Applying antimicrobials only to the areas of the product that are touched most frequently—versus coating an entire product—is a balanced approach. In addition, it’s important to know that antimicrobial materials should not replace or decrease regular cleaning routines or good hygiene practices (e.g. hand washing, coughing into elbows, staying home when sick). They simply add another level of potential benefit by reducing germs in the workplace.
Fact-based information
Antimicrobials by definition have capabilities to kill or inhibit certain types of microbes, but claims of specific improvement of human health are very difficult to demonstrate. Antimicrobials are highly regulated by governmental organizations around the world. While different countries have different standards, most require that antimicrobials be registered and control the type of claims that can be made for a specific technology and/ or application. Pro and con attitudes toward antimicrobials can be extreme, so it’s important to rely on fact-based information versus assumptions or hype.
CONTINUING THE RESEARCH
In scientific literature and mass-market media, there is a continuing stream of new information about microbes, antimicrobial use and the potential benefits as well as risks. As the research continues, it’s important to use factbased information to make informed and intelligent decisions about antimicrobials. Important aspects to keep in mind are the application, amount and probability of touch. It’s also important to differentiate facts from hype.
For several years, Steelcase has been exploring antimicrobial technologies and how they fit into the context of worker wellbeing, sustainability and productivity for employers. Findings indicate that reducing germs on shared surfaces through use of safe and effective antimicrobials can help organizations create cleaner, more health conscious work environments and that, in turn, may be a business benefit that warrants consideration.
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