Sabic’s products deliver improved compatibility with hospital-grade disinfectant, study shows

Leader in thermoplastic technology Sabic, and PDI, a leader in infection prevention productions have announced the results of a joint study on the environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) of SABIC’s materials used for medical device enclosures.

The study analysed how well Sabic’s thermoplastics withstand repeated exposure to PDI’s Super Sani-Cloth wipes, a surface disinfectant widely used in healthcare to help prevent hospital-associated infections (HAIs).

The study revealed that several of Sabic’s product technologies delivered improved compatibility with PDI’s hospital-grade disinfectant. The results give manufacturers new options for designing medical equipment that maintains strong performance, while also addressing the disinfection demands of today’s healthcare environment.

Sabic published the study findings in its brochure eResistance + Durability: Chemical Resistance Performance Testing for Healthcare Materials.

Cathleen Hess, healthcare business leader for Sabic said: “Combatting HAIs is greatly important for hospitals, but if materials are not appropriately selected for the healthcare environment, the frequent application of cleaning chemicals can cause device enclosures to crack prematurely, which can lead to increased maintenance costs for healthcare providers. Sabic and PDI are committed to supporting the healthcare industry with information about compatibility between medical enclosure materials and commonly used disinfectants. Our joint study highlights the complex issue of environmental stress cracking, and provides valuable insights to help our customers make informed material selection decisions.”

On any given about one in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported: “Hundreds of millions of patients are affected by health care-associated infections worldwide each year, leading to significant mortality and financial losses for health systems.”

Cheryl Moran, senior director of Portfolio Management, PDI Infection Prevention said: “With heightened emphasis on infection control in healthcare environments, medical devices are regularly subjected to repeated contact with hospital-grade disinfectants and, as a result, require exceptionally strong materials that are less vulnerable to environmental stress cracking. By guiding manufacturers towards plastics that are better suited for the specific disinfecting requirements of each medical device, our study benefits both medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers, ultimately benefiting the patient, who can be protected from potential adverse events resulting from damaged or improperly disinfected equipment. Continuing our collaboration with Sabic and medical equipment manufacturers will enable even further insights as additional technologies emerge.”