Of the more than 62,500 critical touch points in 103 medical institutions, a recent study determined that only 34% were effectively cleaned post-discharge. This reflects what InPro Corp. (Muskego, WI) calls the "double-barreled risk" of inadequate hand hygiene and ineffective cleaning, prompting the company to launch its new SureContact line of antimicrobial handrails for hospitals.

InPro SureContact handrail

SureContact incorporates antimicrobial additive supplier Sanitized's Zinc Pyrithione non-leaching organic salt to help reduce microorganisms. During manufacturing, InPro said the zinc pyrithione is "anchored into the material substrate at the molecular level" rather than applied to the surface post extrusion.

The active ingredient in Sanitized's additive electrically depolarizes a microbe's membrane and inactivates it creating a permanently protected surface. This physical mode of action does not promote microbe cell mutation and does not leach into the surrounding environment, according to Sanitized.

The SureContact antimicrobial option is available on seven solid-color InPro handrail models. InPro recently combined its manufacturing and distribution operations under one roof, as part of a plant expansion project that added an 88,000-sq-ft three-level addition to its existing building in Muskego. InPro had leased 45,000 sq ft of warehouse space in the New Berlin industrial park. The company noted that due to increased demand for its Sanparrel rigid vinyl sheet product, it would purchase machinery for a second extrusion line.

Earlier this year at Plast2012 in Milan, Sanitized launched three new products: a new silver technology with greater efficiency; protection for PVC with bio-based plasticizers; protection for biodegradable plastics in agriculture.