Krion®: A design bacteriostatic surface
10/02/2022
We continue to get to know a little more about the interior of Krion® and its physical and technical features. This time, we will talk about its bacteriostatic character. A specially important property for the healthcare and catering sectors in which ensuring a hygienic and germ-free environment is key.
One of the main advantages of Krion® over other materials on the market is its additive-free bacteriostatic character. Although there are other materials which have this quality, they have achieved it by combining bactericidal liquids. The problem with this type of anti-bacterial solutions is that, over time, these products may lose effectiveness and the pathogenic microorganisms can become immune to these types of chemical biocides, and furthermore, they can grow on the surface again. This bacterial resistance does not happen on Krion® surfaces, since we are dealing with an additive-free material.
Properties of Krion® which facilitates the absence of bacterias
With the condition of Krion® as an almost zero-porosity surface, contributes an atmosphere free of bacteria and microorganisms that are not able to reproduce. This impossibility of bacteria proliferation favours the creation of aseptic atmospheres which guarantee the healthiness of spaces in medical settings. Gastronomically speaking, this almost zero porosity, together with the transformation of the material with imperceptible joints, they make it an ally for such special environments.
Furthermore, the material from PORCELANOSA Grupo is totally aseptic. A feature that, together with its easy-to-clean properties, make it perfect for using in spaces which require total hygiene standards.
Other properties of our solid surface which prevent the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms: the chemical welding between the pieces and the possibility of curving them; this results in the creation of continuous surfaces without joints or edges. Some of the features that prevent the build-up of microorganisms that pollute spaces.
K·Life: the added value
Krion® K·Life 1100, contributes to non-proliferation of pathogens, turning it into a aseptic surface thanks to its composition and properties. All of this together with the aforementioned properties, make it become the adaquate surface for hospital settings.
In this way, although all projects require a minimum degree of hygiene safety, the values achieved by Krion® regarding in terms of resistance to chemical and cleaning agents standards, make it the most efficient and effective option for health-and-gastronomy-related atmospheres.
The health and safety aspects offered to people are greater than those that other materials such as wood, quartz, marble and granite can provide.
What do bacteriostatic and bactericidal mean?
To understand fully what Krion® bacteriostatic quality consists of, it is important to know the meaning of bacteriostatic and bactericidal, since the terms are commonly confused.
What does it mean if a surface is bacteriostatic?
The word “bacteriostatic” has two parts: "bacter" and "static". "Bacter" is a prefix that clearly refers to bacteria. For its part, "static" comes from the Greek "stasis" and means stopping. When something is static, it cannot move.
So, when a surface or product is bacteriostatic, it means that it can stop bacteria. By acting on their metabolism, a bacteriostatic product can completely stop the growth of bacteria and their reproduction, by depriving them of food that helps them to multiply, leading eventually to their death.
It is essential for the materials we use daily, such as kitchen surfaces, or those in bathrooms, to have bacteriostatic properties.
Krion® Pillow Pink countertop
Bacteriostatic surfaces are not only easier to clean, but also ensure that microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, cannot multiply. This is clearly of vital importance in the home and even more so in healthcare environments.
The different bacteriostatic products that we can find on the market include Krion®. As it is almost completely non-porous, microorganisms do not find places to lodge or food that would help them to multiply. Fungistatic and bacteriostatic coatings, such as Krion®, are the best option for covering sensitive areas in clinics, care homes, nurseries and hospitals.
What does bactericidal mean?
This term is better known. The word "bactericide" consists of two parts: "bacter" and "cide".
"Bacter" again refers to bacteria and the suffix "cide" comes from the Latin verb "caedo" which means to kill.
If a product is a bactericide, therefore, it means that it kills bacteria. Acting on the cell wall and the enzymes, the bactericide prevents the bacteria from living.
Bactericides include the following:
- Bactericidal cleaners. They are usually in liquid form and are normally used for cleaning, especially in food environments.
- Anti-pathogenic surfaces. These are surfaces coated in substances that destroy pathogens by physical or chemical interaction, or the emission of antibacterial agents or biocides.
The difference between bacteriostatic and bactericidal
Now that we know the definition of bacteriostatic and bactericidal, let us examine more closely how they differ from each other.
First of all, they differ in the way each of them acts. A bactericide eliminates bacteria, while a bacteriostatic product stops the growth and reproduction of microorganisms.
While bacteriostatic products inhibit the synthesis of the proteins in the bacteria, bactericides act on the cell wall, altering or interfering with the bacteria's DNA metabolism to kill it.
Does this mean that bactericidal surfaces are better than bacteriostatic surfaces in the fight against microorganisms?
In fact, they are not. The bacteriostatic effect also leads to the death of the bacteria, which cannot proliferate and end up disappearing.
The bacteriostatic effect also leads to the death of the bacteria, which cannot proliferate and end up disappearing.
The main difference lies in their effectiveness. A bactericidal surface may become less effective when the additives necessary to kill bacteria are present in reduced amounts. However, this does not happen with a bacteriostatic surface, such as Krion®, where no additives are needed to achieve the bacteriostatic effect.
KrionⓇ is, therefore, a surface whose bacteriostatic properties do not decrease over time, making it equally safe throughout its working life for use with food or even in hospital environments.
