§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to encourage the use of paint containing calcium hydroxide on hospital(a) surfaces, (b) walls and (c) air ducts; and if he will make a statement; [13802]
(2) what assessment he has made of the benefits of coating hospital surfaces in paint containing calcium hydroxide in relation to the control of Staphylococcus aureus; and if he will make a statement; [13803]
(3) what assessment he has made of the benefits of coating the insides of hospital air ducts in paint containing calcium hydroxide in relation to the spread of Aspergillus niger; and if he will make a statement. [13804]
§ Mr. MilburnThe Department of Health is aware of the advances of technology in paint manufacture. The view of the Department's expert advisers is that wall and floor surfaces in hospitals, in practice, play little part in the transmission of infection, including Staphylococcus aureus. Aspergillus niger is a very uncommon cause of infection in hospitals. The source of such fungal spores is generally outside air.
Duct coating designed to inactivate suspended microbes will make insufficient contact to produce significant reduction in their numbers.
351WPatients with severely reduced immunity, such as bone marrow transplant patients, are particularly prone to A. niger. Units for such patients are generally supplied with air that has passed through High Efficiency Particulate Air filters, tested to British Standard BS3928, located in ductwork. Such filters are highly effective at removing airborne microbial contamination, including spores of A. niger.