Even after 20 [washing] cycles, it maintained a bactericidal efficacy above the reference levels used for antimicrobial fabrics
Pilar Moya
In laboratory tests, the fabric completely inactivated Escherichia coli within 60 minutes and Enterococcus faecalis within 20 minutes when exposed to light. It also achieved a reduction in Candida albicans within three hours. “The material also retains a significant proportion of its activity after repeated washes. Even after 20 cycles, it maintained a bactericidal efficacy above the reference levels used for antimicrobial fabrics,” says Pilar Moya, from the UPV’s Research Institute for Mediterranean Agroforestry.
The hospital validation was carried out in the rooms of 12 patients at La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital in Valencia. The fabrics were placed in two areas of the rooms for 48 hours: the bed rails, exposed to light, and the mattresses, which received less light. In addition, the research team used untreated cotton fabrics as a control.
“In the hospital rooms, the fabric exposed to light accumulated 75% fewer microorganisms than a conventional cotton fabric placed under the same conditions. When the material was placed in an area without direct light, the reduction was much lower, just 25%, confirming that its antimicrobial effect depends largely on lighting. The efficacy was particularly high against Gram-positive bacteria, with their presence reduced by 77.5%,” notes Inmaculada Andreu from the UPV-IIS La Fe Joint Research Unit.
As the team of researchers highlights, the process used to manufacture this fabric could be easily integrated into standard textile-finishing techniques, facilitating the large-scale development of new self-disinfecting textiles for hospitals.
Source: Universitat Politècnica de València