2016 APIC Presentation: A Novel Antimicrobial and Fire Resistant Fabric
Russell Greenfield, MD | Lloyd Frick, PhD | Alan Boyd, RPh
Background: Silver salts can be incorporated into polyester (PET) fibers. These salts are encapsulated by the plastic, protecting them from many of the chemical processing steps used in textile manufacture. This encapsulation also protects the salts during repeated industrial laundering conditions, so that the antimicrobial action persists during the expected life of the article. Many commercial fabrics must be resistant to fire, and we needed to demonstrate that this treatment did not reduce the antimicrobial activity.
Conclusions: This fire retardant fabric is protected from bacteria and other micro-organisms.
2015 APIC Presentation: The Persistence of Antimicrobial Effects in Fabrics and Garments Embedded with Silver After Home and Industrial Launderings
Alan Boyd, RPh, Mac, COO | Russell Greenfield, MD, Medical Director | Lloyd Frick, PhD,Vice President
Conclusions: The fabric embedded with silver maintained 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 that are able to withstand hospital launderings may be preferable.
2014 IDWeek Studies on PurThread Efficacy, University of Arizona, Charles P. Gerba, PhD
Conclusions: This unique fabric has extraordinary antimicrobial properties... These results were achieved in just two to four hours of contact. The fabric can be used to make hospital linens, lab coats, military uniforms—the applications are endless.
Antimicrobial Fabrics Embedded with Silver Aim to Help Prevent Healthcare-Acquired Infections
International Fiber Journal, December 2014
PurThread’s novel method of embedding micro-particles of silver into the fiber protects the silver from washing out, so the fiber remains fully effective at killing bacteria; multiple third-party testing of PurThread fabrics have shown no change in antimicrobial activity after 100 industrial launderings. From a manufacturing perspective, because PurThread is inside the fiber, there are no challenges to the manufacturing process—no specialized equipment or handling is required. Additionally, the silver-embedded fiber blends well with other yarns, including technical yarns; dyes well in white, black or color; withstands chlorine bleach and peroxide; and is available in fine denier, high- tenacity polyester in staple and filament.
Novel Hospital Curtains with Antimicrobial Properties: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, November 2012
Conclusions: CEC privacy curtains increase time to first contamination as compared with standard curtains. Use of privacy curtains with antimicrobial properties could increase the time between washings and may potentially play a role in decreasing pathogen transmission.
Hospital Privacy Curtains are Frequently and Rapidly Contaminated with Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria
American Journal of Infection Control 40 (2012) 904-6
Conclusions: Privacy curtains are rapidly contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria. Further studies should investigate the role of privacy curtains in pathogen transmission and provide interventions to reduce curtain contamination.