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An instrument for measuring bacterial penetration through fabrics used for barrier clothing*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

Ulrika Ransjö  and
Anna Hambraeus
Ulrika Ransjö
Affiliation:
The Instiute of Clinical Bacteriology, Uppsala University, Uppsala
Anna Hambraeus
Affiliation:
The Instiute of Clinical Bacteriology, Uppsala University, Uppsala
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Summary

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A new instrument has been designed to measure the penetration by rubbing of bacteria from cloth contaminated in the nursing of burn patients through fabrics designed for barrier garments. Most fabrics tested dry reduced the transfer of bacteria from the source cloth to about 10%, irrespective of the results of air filter tests, which agrees with mock nursing results. When the fabrics were tested against a wet surface, the transfer of bacteria rapidly reached 100% if the fabrics had a high wettability, but was slower for fabrics with a low wettability. Through closely woven waterproofed cotton, transfer was 5–25%, but increased three- to four-fold after ten launderings, in line with the water absorption. Transfer through plastic-laminated material was less than 1%. The results suggest that barrier garments should be made either of plastic or of recently waterproofed closely woven cotton at points of contact between nurse and patient where the clothes may be wetted by bacteria-containing wound secretions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 82 , Issue 3 , June 1979 , pp. 361 - 368
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

References

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