Trial of purifier tackling bugs

An air purifier which could wipe out killer superbugs is to get a hospital trial.

Signature Aromas of Sedgley spent three years on the Purazone device, which kills airborne particles, and it is to be trialled at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital.

Boss Brian Chappell built it after seeing hospital conditions when his brother-in-law was treated for leukaemia.

Independent tests showed Purazone removes 99.9 per cent of MRSA and most of C.diff.

He said: “It’s not the be all and end all but it’s our belief that logically if you have not got viruses and MRSA in the air, if you can kill the spores of C.diff in the air, it has got to improve people’s chances in a hospital environment.”

Development was supported by Advantage West Midlands and tests were done at Coventry University’s microbiology laboratories and Microsearch Laboratories in Yorkshire. Mr Chappell said the small stainless steel portable unit may be used in surgeries and bus and train waiting rooms.

Purazone was trialled at Eversleigh Nursing Home, Albert Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, for six months. Matron Jan Evans said it removed bad odours permanently and made a big difference to the environment for residents. Purazone uses UVC light and natural oils to eliminate hazardous air-borne viruses and bacteria and give off a pleasant smell.

Mr Chappell said they wanted units to have a significant effect on reducing infection in the care sector and other areas where there are varying levels of resistance to infection and a high rate of contamination”.

Signature Aromas makes the Restaroma and Vaparoma air fragrancing units already used in more than 150 hospitals and nursing homes across the UK.