The care environment demands flooring solutions that support cleanliness, comfort, and safety. danfloor develops commercial carpets designed specifically for these needs, featuring BI-OME®, a permanent antimicrobial yarn coating.

With the treatment already being valued within the care and retirement living sector is it now attracting attention from NHS infection control teams, particularly within the mental health sector, who value the benefits of carpets, but require flooring to meet strict guidelines when it comes to cleaning and infection control.

What Is BI-OME Antimicrobial Coating?

BI-OME is a treatment applied during the carpet manufacturing process. It provides carpets with long-lasting antimicrobial properties. BI-OME technology is based on the fixation of a non-migrating permanent coating that is specially designed to prevent microorganisms from adhering and multiplying. BI-OME offers several benefits:

• Inhibits Microbial Growth: It targets bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, reducing their ability to survive and multiply.
• Permanent Application: Unlike surface treatments that wear off over time, BI-OME is integrated into the yarn during production. It remains active and efficient throughout the carpet’s lifecycle.
• Non-Contributory to Bacterial Resistance: BI-OME works differently from antibiotics and some other antimicrobial agents as it doesn’t encourage the development of resistant strains.

How does BI-OME work?

BI-OME technology works by employing non-toxic, physical mechanisms to prevent the growth and reproduction of bacteria and microbes, rather than killing them directly. Here’s how:

1.     BI-OME's Mode of Action:

Surface Modification: BI-OME creates a protective layer on the flooring surface that interferes with the ability of microbes to adhere, grow, and proliferate. This passively prevents microbial growth.

Physical Interaction: The technology does not release toxic chemicals into the environment but instead relies on mechanical disruption of the microbe's outer layer. This process is generally not something that microbes can evolve resistance to since it is based on the physical properties of the surface itself rather than on chemical agents.

2.  No Selection pressure:

Unlike antibiotics or other chemical treatments that push microbes to develop resistance, BI-OME doesn’t work in a way that encourages such mutations. The Surface Modification and Physical Interaction described above means that the microbes can’t "learn" to resist it like they do with traditional chemical treatments.

3.  Safe for Environment & Humans:

One of the key benefits of BI-OME technology is that it is non-toxic to humans and animals, which further reduces the risk of any harmful side effects or resistance development. It is designed to avoid environmental impact, unlike some antimicrobial agents that contain harmful particles and compounds that leach into the environment or water during washing; contributing to a disruption in ecosystems, affecting aquatic life, polluting the environment and developing resistance.

4. Proven Efficacy Without Resistance:

In studies and real-world applications, BI-OME has been shown to provide long-lasting protection against microbial growth without causing resistance. Because it doesn’t rely on antimicrobial toxins that target specific bacterial functions, the technology remains effective over time.

Why Antimicrobial Carpets Matter

Care homes and healthcare facilities face challenges in maintaining hygienic environments but Carpets, such as danfloor’s Equinox and Evolution Collections, that contain BI-OME offer specific advantages:

1. Supports Infection Control: The antimicrobial action helps reduce the risk of contamination from spills, bodily fluids, or airborne particles. If contamination occurs, the treatment immediately begins working, achieving a 4-log reduction of 99.99%.
2. Odour Reduction: Stops bacterial and fungal growth which are the major cause of most textile odour problems.
3. Durability: The permanent nature of BI-OME means the carpets retain their antimicrobial efficacy for the product's life.

Practical Applications within Care Homes and the NHS

Carpet offers many therapeutic benefits in healthcare settings including sound absorption, warmth under foot and that important home-from-home feeling:

• Lounge and Recreation Areas: Carpets improve acoustics, which is particularly important for those with dementia or hearing impairments. They also help to create a more homely atmosphere.
• Bedrooms: Carpets remain the most popular choice for flooring in bedrooms due to underfoot warmth and comfort. No one likes to step out of bed onto a cold hard floor.
• Staff Rooms: A softer surface provides comfort during breaks while maintaining hygiene.
• Low-Risk Patient Areas: Carpets can be used where cleanliness standards are high but where the environment is non-clinical, such as consultation and meeting rooms

NHS mental health facilities, like Sheffield's NHS Health Based Place of Safety pictured above, are prioritising therapeutic environments to support healing. In discussions with Infection Control Teams, danfloor has received positive feedback, highlighting how BI-OME’s antimicrobial properties could encourage wider carpet use in non-clinical NHS settings.

Looking Ahead

The interest from NHS infection control teams suggests a shift in perceptions and a growth in understanding. Advances in antimicrobial technology are helping to balance hygiene with comfort, and danfloor’s products play a key role in creating supportive, welcoming, homely and clean environments.

Quick-fire Q&As

Q. Do antimicrobial carpets compromise cleaning protocols?

A. No. Regular cleaning remains essential to maintain hygiene standards. BI-OME complements these efforts by providing an additional layer of microbial protection.

Q. How is durability tested?

A. Extensive testing demonstrates that the treatment withstands regular wear and cleaning processes.

Q. Are there environmental impacts?

A. BI-OME is designed for the safety of those who come into contact with the treatment and the environment around them, by using safe, non-toxic components.

Find out more about BI-OME by viewing our carpet ranges.