Antibacterial Activity of Textile Products Used in Hospital Environment

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The microorganisms situated in the hospital environment, such as bed sheets, bedspreads and cushions, can damage the textile product itself and the user. In this study, it was aimed to determine the anti bacterial activity of five different fabrics, suggested to have anti bacterial properties by coating with various chemical substances, applied to the market, against six different standard bacterial isolates. METHODS: Fabrics were supplied from market belong to five different companies producing fabrics in different regions in our country. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was applied according to CLSI disk diffusion reference method and antibacterial activity was evaluated by using Mueller Hinton Agar medium. The antibacterial activities of the fabrics in the study were evaluated against six standard bacterial isolates including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RESULTS: No anti bacterial activity against any standard bacterial isolate was detected in four of the five fabrics in the study. Proper good anti bacterial activity against MRSA isolate was observed in the fabric five. The same fabric was defined to exhibit a weak anti bacterial activity against E. coli isolate. No anti bacterial activity was detected against other four bacterial species in fabric five. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The antibacterial effect varies depending on the type of chemical substance used, the duration of activity on the fabric, and physical factors such as washing and abrasion. Anticipated anti bacterial activity was not observed. It is controversial how anti bacterial the fabrics that are available on the market.

Keywords

• antibacterial activity
• nosocomial infection
• fabrics.