Antibacterial finishing reduces hospital textiles contamination. An experimental study

Introduction and methods: Contaminated dressings are particularly suitable for growth of microorganisms and a well-known source of bacterial spreading in the hospital environment. This study evaluates the bacterial contamination of white coats and surgical gowns and drapes treated with a novel antibacterial finishing technology of hospital textiles. Bacterial contamination rates of untreated white coats and surgical gowns and drapes were compared to treated textiles. In vitro determination of antibacterial activity against reference bacterial strains and clinical isolates was performed according to the European guideline EN ISO 20645. Efficacy of the treatment was verified in clinical setting by comparing the amount of bacteria isolated from treated and untreated textiles used for clinical and surgical activities. Result and conclusion: Treated textiles demonstrated in vitro activity against most of the tested microorganisms with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacterial contamination was markedly lower for treated white coats after 1 week of use and for surgical gowns and textiles at the end of surgery when compared to untreated dressings and textiles used in the same conditions. The tested treatment proved to be able to reduce bacterial contamination of hospital textiles both in vitro and in the clinical and surgical settings.