The Persistence of Antimicrobial Effects in Fabrics and Garments Embedded with Silver after Home and Industrial Launderings

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

In healthcare facilities, soft surfaces such as curtains, sheets, pillowcases, blankets and upholstered furniture may harbor bacteria and other pathogens. Fabrics and garments have been treated with antimicrobial agents with varying degrees of success. This study assesses the antimicrobial durability of a fiber extruded with silver after 100 home launderings as well as after 100 industrial launderings. Industrial launderings are considerably harsher on fabric than home launderings. This study was a 2 sample observational study. The fabric used for this study was medium strength silver extruded fiber made into labcoats. One set of fabric samples was washed 100 times using standard home laundering methods. A second set of identical fabric samples was washed 100 times using standard industrial laundering methods. Duplicate samples with both Staph Aureus (6538) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae (4352) as well as non-laundered controls were tested with 24 hour contact times per AATCC 100. CFUs compared to time zero controls was the dependent variable. Staph Aureus-For samples home laundered 100 times, a 2.43 log or 99.6% reduction in CFUs occurred, while samples industrial laundered 100 times, a >3.43 log or 99.99% reduction in CFUs occurred. Positive control samples not laundered, had a >3.43 log or 99.99% reduction in CFUs. Klebsiella Pneumoniae-For samples home laundered 100 times, a 1.67 log or 97.85% reduction in CFUs occurred, while samples industrial laundered 100 times, a 1.13 log or 92.61% reduction in CFUs occurred. Positive control samples not laundered, had a >4.15 log or 99.993% reduction in CFUs. The fabric extruded with silver maintained moderate antimicrobial activity with both the home and industrial launderings. Furthermore, the fabric showed very little difference in antimicrobial activity regardless of laundering method. In hospital or clinical environments that would benefit from soft surfaces with antimicrobial properties, fabrics of this type able to withstand hospital launderings, may be preferable.