HARTALEGA UNVEILS NEW ANTI-MICROBIAL GLOVES
Company has invested more than US$10m in development of ‘game-changer’
HARTALEGA Holdings Bhd has launched its new non-leaching antimicrobial gloves in the United Kingdom. Managing director Kuan Mun Leong said the unprecedented innovation provides active protection against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
“Many HAIs, such as MRSA, are resistant to multiple antibiotics, which makes it difficult to treat. As reported by the World Health Organisation, HAIs affect 4.1 million patients each year in the European Union alone, resulting in 37,000 deaths and additional costs of €7 billion (RM30.6 billion),” he said in a statement yesterday.
The anti-microbial glove is developed in collaboration with anti-microbial research and development company Chemical Intelligence UK, which has built-in anti-microbial technology, proven to kill microorganisms and prevent the spread of infections.
“This product is a game-changer for the industry as it is the first in the world with this sort of efficacy and performance.
“The product will be available in hospitals around the world and is being produced at a low cost to reduce barriers to access,” he added.
Hartalega has invested more than US$10 million (RM39.7 million) in the development of the product, with further investment under way for future enhancements.
This technological breakthrough is the first to contain a new active microorganism-killing molecule designed to prevent the spread of bacteria to and from surfaces and people.
With the technology built into the glove, it does not need applications of further solutions or chemicals. Bacteria coming into contact will be exposed to the anti-microbial activity, which, in independent testing, achieved up to a five-log (99.999 per cent) kill within five minutes of contact.
“It is our hope that this product will help raise the bar and become a new standard for the global healthcare industry to save lives across the world,” said Kuan.