Biocidal Hard and Soft Surfaces Containing Copper Oxide Particles for the Reduction of Healthcare-Acquired Pathogens - Use of Biocidal Surfaces for Reduction of Healthcare Acquired Infections - page 85

List of Abbreviations

AATCC American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
cfu

Colony forming units

EPA USA Environmental Protection Agency

GLP Good laboratory practices

HAI Healthcare-acquired infections

HD Hospitalization days

MRSA Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

SEM Scanning electronic microscope

TM Test Method

VRE Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus

5.1 Hospital Textiles as a Source of Healthcare-Acquired
Pathogens

Textile products are widely used in the hospital environment. They range from
simple cleaning wipes to advanced barrier fabrics used in operating rooms. Some of
the products are in direct contact with the patients, such as blankets, sheets,
pyjamas, towels, gowns, and pillowcases. Others are used by the healthcare per-
sonnel, such as uniforms, surgical gowns, face masks, and head and shoe covers.
Some products are present in the patient wards, such as drapes, table covers and
privacy curtains.
Textiles in general are an excellent substrate for microbial proliferation when in
contact with the human body. The very large surface area, the capacity to retain
oxygen, and the moisture and temperature conditions present between the skin and
the textiles provide ideal environment for microbial proliferation. Humans shed
bacteria directly from their skin, nasal cavities, genitalia area, and sweat onto the
textiles they use [ 1 ]. Bacterial shedding is greater in patients than in healthy
individuals [ 2 , 3 ]. In addition, hospital textiles come in contact with spillages and
body exudates, such as blood, stool, urine, nasopharyngeal secretions and vomit, all
of which can contain large amounts of bacteria and serve as a bacterial nutrient
source. Heavy microbial colonization of sheets, patient pajamas, healthcare worker
uniforms, and privacy curtains, including by antibiotic resistant bacteria, has been
reported [ 4 - 29 ]. Contamination of clean laundry occurs shortly after use [ 14 ]. With-
out washing, bacteria, fungi and viruses can remain viable on textiles, under
ambient temperature and humidity, for very prolonged periods of time; even
months [ 19 , 29 - 36 ] (See also Chap. 2 ). The higher the bacterial titer spiked onto
the fabrics, the longer the bacteria can survive [ 31 ]. Unfortunately, some microor-
ganisms remain viable even after industrial laundry [ 7 , 37 - 39 ], and contaminated
laundry can lead to cross-contamination of clean laundry [ 40 ].
While proliferating on the textiles, some microorganisms secrete unpleasant
volatile molecules creating foul odors [ 41 ]. But, more importantly, some