The benefits of antimicrobial power strips in healthcare environments

Reducing the occurrence of infections in healthcare environments

The incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than 680,000 healthcare-associated infections occur annually in U.S. hospitals, at a cost as high as $45 billion per year.*

Frequently, HAIs spread through cross-contamination when objects are handled by multiple people. Any object in a healthcare setting touched by staff, patients or visitors becomes a potential breeding ground for harmful microbes. The threat of HAIs is especially significant within the patient care vicinity, where patients receive their treatments.

Visit www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections for more information.

How Eaton antimicrobial power strips promote a healthy environment

To help reduce risks of contamination, Eaton Tripp Lite series hospital/medical grade power strips combine antimicrobial technology with solutions meeting UL standards for use inside and outside the patient care vicinity. That makes them ideal as safe power strips for use in hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices and nursing homes.

Here’s how the Eaton Tripp Lite series provides safe power strips for healthcare environments:

• Medical-grade power strips with antimicrobial coatings provide protection against microbes such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus C. diff and MRSA.
• Hospital-grade plugs and outlets provide secure connections and superior grounding for safety.
• Switchless designs prevent accidental shut-off.
• Sturdy metal housings stand up to around-the-clock use.
• Resettable built-in circuit breakers help prevent overloads.
• Integrated mounting holes and flanges enable easy and secure installation.
• Select models include integrated locking safety covers to block access to unused outlets.
• The Eaton Tripp Lite series line includes:

1. Medical-grade power strips compliant with UL 60601-1 standards with fault protection – the only safe choice for standalone use in patient care vicinities. (“Standalone” means the power strip does not need to be part of a medical system.)

2. Medical-grade power strips compliant with UL 1363A standards – power strips approved as components of medical systems. They can only be used in patient care vicinities under specific, narrowly defined circumstances.

3. Medical-grade power strips compliant with UL 1363 standards – approved only for use outside of patient care vicinities, even if the power strip has hospital-grade outlets and plugs. These power strips can only be used in areas like labs, administrative offices and other areas not involved in patient care.