Labeling Healthcare Polyolefins
Mitigating Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI)
Proven Healthcare Fusion Labeling Solution
As a disruptive polymer technology company, Polyfuze provides their advanced Fusion Labeling Technology for healthcare industry products made from polyolefin thermoplastics like Polypropylene and Polyethylene for:
- Biohazard Medical Waste Containers
- Sharps Containers
- Cryogenic/Vaccine Support
- Hospital Beds
- Medical Devices
- EMS Equipment
- Plastic Dental Retainers
Working with Hill-Rom, Weber GmbH & Co.KGr, AMA Plastic and Alliance precision Plastic for several years now, Polyfuze Fusion Labeling has provided solutions for Warning, Informative, Tracking and Brand Recognition labeling on their challenging polyolefin plastic products for the healthcare industry.
Medical Waste Expert Shares Thoughts on Disruptive Fusion Label Technology from Polyfuze
Bob Spurgin
Nation’s Leading Authority on Healthcare Waste Management
For over 3 decades, Bob Spurgin has been at the forefront of Medical Waste Policy, Permitting, and Regulatory Advocacy for Health Facilities, Regulators and Industry throughout the United States.
- Worked with over 200 hospitals and major waste service/product providers.
- Was contractor for “Finding the Rx for Managing Medical Waste.”
- Co-authored of the EPA Guide for Infectious Waste.
- Was editor of “Environmental Standards for the Healthcare Industry.”
- Has appeared on CNN, PBS and ABC.
- Speaks at national and regional health care conferences.
- Medical waste advisory group on LinkedIn has over 3500 members worldwide.
Damaged Labels - Perfect Environment For HAI Causing Bacteria.
HAI Causes
According to a study conducted by Stephanie A. Boone and Charles P. Gerba2, experts have seen increasing evidence that contaminated surfaces or fomites play a prominent role in the spread of viral and bacterial HAI.
“Fomites” are non-living objects in healthcare settings that include a wide array of polyolefin plastic products and labeling that are continually exposed to a range of harsh inputs. For example, a durable Polypropylene Sharps Container and label must endure 600 cycles of detergent and high temp steam pressure washing at 121°C (250°F) while a Polypropylene Medical Sample Tray and label must survive cryogenic freezing at -80°C (-112°F).
Where polyolefin products are designed to endure these diverse fluctuations, incompatible labels applied to them cannot, leaving them unsterile and damaged becoming the perfect environment for HAI harboring microbes that can be transmitted through a single touch.
Facts About HAI's
Why do standard labels applied to polyolefin plastics like Polypropylene and Polyethylene used in Healthcare Environments like sharps containers and biohazard waste bins not meet requirements?
Because like Teflon®, nothing wants to stick to them.
Compatible Polyfuze Fusion Labeling
Benefits Of Fusion Labeling In Healthcare Environments
- Sterile - Polyfuze Fusion labels create a flush, label-free surface on polyolefin fomites that are easy to clean and sanitize. No more gummy adhesives or peeled edges for bacteria to harbor.
- Safe - Polyfuze Fusion Warning/Safety labels continue to inform patients, healthcare workers and biohazard collection technicians for life of the product without degradation.
- Perception - Damaged incompatible labels leave peeled edges, exposed under layers and gummy adhesives that imply contamination and uncleanliness. Polyfuze Fusion Labels become an integral part of the product and cannot lift, peel or de-laminate for the life of the product.
- Price vs. Cost - Damaged incompatible labels not only leave workers and patients vulnerable to HAI causing bacteria, but the healthcare industry vulnerable to "failure to warn" and potential litigation which requires additional labels, labor and costs to mitigate. Polyfuze Fusion Labels infused with PREVENT Antimicrobial continues to inhibits growth hours after sanitizing operations cease.
Blog - How Labeling Influences Healthcare Associated Infections
If there’s one thing the COVID-19 pandemic has helped to shed light on, it’s the global epidemic of Healthcare Associated Infections…. Read more about how standard labeling not only harbors bacteria, but affects safety, perception and cost for healthcare workers, patients and the industry as a whole.
Additional Resources
Why Polyfuze
Discover the Key Benefits to choosing Polyfuze Fusion Labeling Technology.
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It
Project Engineer - Rubbermaid Commercial
Michael M - Hartwell Medical
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