Drastic Reduction of Bacterial, Fungal and Viral Pathogen Titers by Cuprous Oxide Impregnated Medical Textiles.

Gadi Borkow,Vikram K Kanmukhla,Rachel Salvatori

doi:10.3390/jfb12010009

Gadi Borkow, Vikram K Kanmukhla + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb12010009

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Abstract

Hospital patients and personnel are at risk of nosocomial viral infections, as clearly manifested during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transmission of respiratory viral pathogens can occur through contaminated surfaces, including from medical textiles. Copper has potent biocidal properties, and cuprous oxide impregnated medical textiles (CMT) reduce hospital-acquired bacterial infections. In the current study we confirm the antimicrobial properties of CMT and determine their capacity to reduce infectious titres of human coronavirus (HCoV-229E) in an independent laboratory. The antibacterial and antiviral activities of the CMT were determined according to AATCC TM100-2019 and ISO 18184:2019 standards, respectively. The CMT reduced by 4 logs the viable titers of MRSA, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida auris after 2 h of incubation. Viable titers of Clostridium difficile were reduced by 2.3, 3, and 4 logs after 2, 6, and 18 h, respectively. Infectious titers of HCoV-229E exposed to CMT for 2 h were reduced by 2.8 and 4 logs (99.85% and 99.99% reductions) as compared to Time-0 control and initial inoculum, respectively. The CMT retain their antibacterial efficacy even after 100 industrial washings. Use of cuprous oxide impregnated textiles in clinical settings may reduce not only hospital acquired infections caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens, but also, and equally important, those caused by coronavirus and other viruses.

Highlights

Infection from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, can occur through direct exposure to aerosol particles and droplets generated during coughing, sneezing or talking, both by symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals [1,2], or indirectly by touching contaminated surfaces [3]
Use of cuprous oxide impregnated textiles in clinical settings may reduce hospital acquired infections caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens, and, and important, those caused by coronavirus and other viruses
Hospital patients and personnel are at risk of nosocomial viral infections [8,27], as clearly manifested during the current COVID-19 pandemic [28,29]

Summary

Introduction

Infection from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, can occur through direct exposure to aerosol particles and droplets generated during coughing, sneezing or talking, both by symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals [1,2], or indirectly by touching contaminated surfaces [3]. SARS-CoV-2 can remain infectious on inanimate surfaces from hours to days [4]. On fabrics the virus can remain infectious for up to 2 days [5]. Other coronaviruses, as well as other enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, can remain infectious for days on inanimate surfaces [6,7,8]. The capacity of copper surfaces to reduce the infectious titers of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported [10,11]. No viable SARSCoV-2 was found on metallic copper after 8 h, while on cardboard, plastic, and stainless steel, viable SARS-CoV-2 could be found even after 24, 72 and 72 h, respectively [11]

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