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Are there published case studies in which plumbing products used in healthcare facilities have been investigated for microbial contamination? Yes. A selection of relevant articles is available in the Bibliography section of this site and for additional directions of investigation please consider the Link section of this site. top How often should Careguard® devices be replaced? Careguard® has been submitted to endurance testing with the current results showing no decline in antimicrobial efficacy after one year (simulated usage, 13,000 gallons of fresh municipal water) but a partial decline after two years (simulated usage, 26,000 gallons of fresh municipal water). An annual replacement will maximize the efficacy of Careguard®. Factors that can negatively affect the longevity of the antimicrobial protection include the water hardness (hard water produces lime deposits which reduce the actual surface contact with the antimicrobial) and the sulphur content of the water (sulphur can bind to silver). Sulphur is more frequent in well water than municipal water and often causes a noticeable rotten egg smell. top What happens if Careguard® spout-end devices are not replaced often enough? The antimicrobial efficacy will gradually reduce over time but in areas of relatively soft water (non-liming) the stream quality and flow rate will be unaffected for many years of usage. Even after the antimicrobial protection has disappeared, Careguard® continues to produce a non-splashing laminar (non-aerated) stream and to minimize lime build-up. top Is it necessary to replace the whole spout-end device (chrome plated housing, internal part and washer) every time a new Careguard® needs to be installed? No. The chrome plated housing is often in a much better shape than the internal part (usually referred to as insert). The housing is not in direct contact with drinking water and is not treated with the antimicrobial. In areas with liming water (hard water) the housing may become encrusted with lime. In this case a regular replacement is recommended. In other cases replacing only the insert and washer is an option. Careguard® inserts are available as replacement parts in a sealed bag with two washers (for male or female housings). This package provides the most cost effective replacement solution. top How long can Careguard® products be kept on the shelf? The antimicrobial is active (releasing silver ions) only in water and inert in dry conditions (silver is not released). Careguard® can therefore be kept on the shelf for many months without any reduction of efficacy. top Are there special handling/storing instructions for Careguard® products? Keep Careguard® products in their original sealed package (bag, tube or shrink-wrapped tray) and in a dry place until they are delivered to the end user. The packaging will keep the product clean and will help it retain its complete efficacy. top Are usual cleaning procedures still necessary when using Careguard® laminar spout-end attachments? Absolutely! Careguard® is not an alternative to good housekeeping practices or to the infection control procedures in place in healthcare facilities. top Are test reports available documenting the efficacy of Agion silver antimicrobials in general and of Careguard® spout-end devices in particular? Yes. Please visit www.Agion-tech.com for details on Agion's extensive lab data and see the test report section of this site for lab test data on Careguard's efficacy. top Can Careguard® spout-end devices be submitted to the types of disinfection procedures in place in selected healthcare institutions? Yes. Careguard® can handle with no damage or reduction of efficacy hot water temperatures up to 150°F (hot water under line pressure), steam in an autoclave up 248°F or hyper-chlorinated water for a few minutes. In the event of hyperchlorination, please rinse with clean (safe) water to remove chlorine residue and avoid possible chemical damage to the polymer when the chlorine solution dries up. top
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