Factors affecting Removal of Bacterial Pathogens from Healthcare Surfaces during Dynamic Wiping

Edwards, Nicholas W. M., Best, Emma L., Goswami, Parikshit, Wilcox, Mark and Russell, Stephen J. (2018) Factors affecting Removal of Bacterial Pathogens from Healthcare Surfaces during Dynamic Wiping. Textile Research Journal. ISSN 0040-5175

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Abstract

Wiping of surfaces contaminated with pathogenic bacteria is a key strategy for combatting transmission of healthcare associated infections. It is essential to understand the extent to which removal of bacteria is modulated by fibre properties, biocidal liquid impregnation and applied hand pressure. The influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the removal efficiencies of pathogenic bacteria was studied. Nonwoven wipes made of either hydrophobic (polypropylene) or hygroscopic (lyocell) fibres were manufactured and dynamic removal efficiency of bacteria studied. The single most important parameter affecting bacterial removal efficiency was impregnation with biocidal liquid (p <0.05). For inherently hygroscopic 100% regenerated cellulose (lyocell) wipes impregnated with biocidal liquid, removal of E. coli, S. aureus and E. faecalis improved by increasing the fabric surface density and wiping pressure to their maximal values - 150 g.m-2 and 13.80 kN.m-2 respectively. For inherently hydrophobic 100% polypropylene nonwoven wipes, the same conditions maximised the removal efficiency of S. aureus, but for E. coli and E. faecalis a reduction in the wiping pressure to 4.68 kN.m-2 was required. Best practice involves the use of higher surface density wipes (150 g m-2) containing regenerated cellulose fibres loaded with liquid biocide, and applied with the greatest possible wiping pressure.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Management of fabrication; Manufacture; Materials; Performance; Product design; Systems; Product and systems engineering
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Schools:	School of Art, Design and Architecture
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
Depositing User:	Sally Hughes
Date Deposited:	21 Dec 2017 15:57
Last Modified:	26 Mar 2018 15:01
URI:	http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/34124

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