Power of scent could help superbug battle

9:49am Tuesday 21st August 2007

Comments (2)   Have your say »

A BUSINESSMAN has come up with a way of defeating superbugs - with the power of scent.

Roy Jackson, chairman of Scent Technologies, has developed a machine which gives off a secret blend of essential oils.

Tests carried out at Manchester's Wythenshawe Hospital have revealed that "dry air" machines significantly reduced the amount of the airborne MRSA bacteria.

Mr Jackson, aged 66, who lives on Lever Park Avenue, Horwich, is now calling on health chiefs at the Royal Bolton Hospital to introduce the machine in a bid to reduce their soaring rates of superbugs. He said: "It has had amazing results and I really think it would help at the Royal Bolton.

"I'm so delighted we've come across this."

The grandfather-of-two previously founded the Express Electrical Distributors wholesale business.

He started his scents firm five years ago.

Originally, the scent machines were used to supply specific aromas, such as cooked breakfasts and coffee, in Travelodge hotels.

But his company carried out research with Manchester Metropolitan University and discovered that a special mix, which includes lemongrass, could slash bacteria.

A trial in Wythnshawe's burns unit reduced airborne bacteria by 90 per cent.

Ken Dunn, a consultant burns and plastics surgeon at Wythenshawe Hospital, said: "We have been extremely encouraged by the ability of these machines to reduce airborne bacteria.

"Burns patients are particularly vulnerable to wound infection and while the machines were in place, there were no cases of MRSA on the burns unit. When they were removed for a temporary test, airborne MRSA bacteria significantly increased."

Between April, 2006, and March, 2007, superbugs were linked to the deaths of at least nine patients at the Royal Bolton.

Figures show there were 257 recorded cases of Clostridium Difficile between January and June this year, compared to just 176 in the same period the year before.

While rates of MRSA are not rising, the hospital has already had 10 cases since April. In the year to the end of March, there were 39 cases.

A Department of Health team was recently called into the hospital to investigate why the numerous measures already introduced had not been effective.