Nick Falco, Product & Technical Director at Mechline Developments, speaks to Care Home Magazine about how care homes can elevate hygiene standards and strengthen protection with HyGenikx, the company’s award-winning air and surface sanitiser.
From washrooms, food prep areas, communal spaces, staff rooms, and even refuse areas, Mechline offers models suitable for various spaces within the care home environment.
What is HyGenikx?
HyGenikx is an advanced, wall-mounted air and surface sanitiser that employs specialised UV-C germicidal technology to eradicate viruses and bacteria. This technology has undergone rigorous testing and validation in top independent laboratories worldwide, giving care homes full confidence in its effectiveness. Additionally, we have proven its advantages in real-world operational settings.
Let this real-world trial speak for itself:
Mechline Developments recently demonstrated that the HyGenikx air and surface sanitiser can reduce microbial activity by up to 89% in a real kitchen setting. In an ATP testing trial at Bedford Academy, three HyGenikx units were installed: two in the main prep kitchen and one in the staff changing room. ATP samples were gathered from 7 designated test points both before installation and one week afterwards. All samples were collected during regular operational hours using a Kikkoman Lumitester Smart – Portable ATP luminometer.
Like many catering facilities, especially in the healthcare and care home sector, Bedford Academy keeps its setting spotless. However, no matter how well staff perform their day-to-day cleaning duties, it is well known that this can only offer a temporary solution. This is why care homes are now considering investing in supporting systems to complement staff best practices and minimise the risk of viruses and bacteria spreading.
The results in this trial showed reductions in microbial counts in all points tested after HyGenikx was installed. On average, levels of contamination had reduced by 77%, and up to 89%.
The units helped to improve hygiene levels in an already clean kitchen and has reduced potential risks.
So impressed with their results with HyGenikx, Bedford Academy has since decided to install HyGenikx units at all sites within the Trust, as Russell Abbey, Head of Catering Services, Heart Academies Trust, details: “We have now installed HyGenikx at our other sites. What I like is that you can feel, sense, and smell the difference in the air when you walk into the staff changing room. It used to be stale, musty old air as there was low ventilation, but since having the HyGenikx unit installed in there, it is like a completely different room.”
Considering these conclusions for Care
These results are key for care home caterers to consider, given ATP testing is widely used in the food industry to monitor the cleanliness within HACCP systems, and alert those responsible to high-risk areas and where preventative action is needed.
Competitively priced, consuming very little energy, and requiring no training to use, these small but mighty systems plug into a standard socket and operate 24/7 without human intervention.
Ultimately, HyGenikx by Mechline Developments provides care homes with a simple solution for effortlessly and effectively tackling tough-to-handle challenges related to ATP, microbial counts, viruses, and beyond.
https://www.mechline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/HyGenikx-Case-Study_-Bedford-Academy.pdf
