Cotton Fabrics Can Limit The Spread of MRSA Type Bacteria

DETROIT, MICHIGAN -- Recent scare of MRSA (Methicillin ResistantStaphylococcus Aureus) infections in schools and hospitals hasdominated the media. Every possible preventive measure fromsanitizing surfaces in gyms, dining facilities to hand washing isbeing taken in schools and other health care institutions becauseof the untreatable and often deadly antibiotic resistant bacterialinfections.

Each preventive measure helps in limiting the spread of MRSAinfections. Aprons, lab coats, bed sheets, and other fabricmaterial can shield skin from direct contact with the bacterium.However not all fabrics are equal in shielding and therebypreventing the spread of bacteria.

Dr. Lopes at Microcide, Inc. in Detroit, Michigan has developed anew technique of directly visualizing bacterial attachment onfabrics. Tests with fabric swatches show that cotton fabricstightly bind the Staph aureus bacteria to the fabric at the site ofattachment while synthetic fabrics lack this property of bindingthe bacteria. When the bacteria are tightly bound and held in placethere is less chance of these germs contaminating the next objectthat comes in contact with the fabric. This will help in preventingthe spread of bacterial infections in schools, hospitals, nursinghomes and other places. The pictures of fabric swatches show thatStaph aureus bacteria are bound and kept in place at the site of(inoculation) contact on cotton fabrics. The fabrics made of purecotton are most effective binders, while pure polyester fabrics areleast effective. A mixed fabric blend shows intermediate efficacyof binding the bacteria.

Explanation of Picture Above:

Figure A. Pattern of deposition of Staph. aureus on 100% cottonfabric seen by direct enumeration
method. The cells remain adhered at the site of inoculation.

Figure B.: Pattern of deposition of Staph. aureus on 65/35polyester cotton fabric seen by direct
enumeration Method the cells slightly migrate with the inoculumfluid.

Figure C. Pattern of deposition of Staph.aureus on 100% polyesterfabric seen by direct enumeration method. The cells freely movefrom the site of inoculum. Staph. aureus either do not bind toRolyester fibers, or do so poorly.

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