Micro-textured films for reducing microbial colonization in a clinical setting

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A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

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en

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Journal of Hospital Infection, Volume 98, issue 1, pp. 83-89

Abstract

Background: Transmission of microbes in the hospital environment occurs frequently through human interactions with high-touch surfaces such as patient beds and over-bed tables. Although stringent cleaning routines are implemented as a preventive measure to minimize transmission of microbes, it is desirable to have high-touch surfaces made of antimicrobial materials. Physical texturing of solid surfaces offers a non-bactericidal approach to control the colonization of such surfaces by microbes. Aim: To investigate the efficacy of micro-textured polycarbonate films in reducing bacterial load on over-bed tables in a hospital ward. Methods: Two different micro-patterns were fabricated on polycarbonate film via a thermal imprinting method. Micro-textured films were then mounted on patient over-bed tables in a general hospital ward and the bacterial load monitored over 24 h. Total colony counts, which represented on-specific bacterial loading, and meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus counts were monitored at each time-point. Findings: Over a period of 24 h, both micro-textured surfaces showed consistently lower bacterial load as compared to the unpatterned polycarbonate and the bare over-bed table laminate. This study supports the findings of earlier laboratory-scale studies that microscale physical texturing can reduce bacterial colonization on a solid surface. Conclusion: Results of the current study suggest that micro-textured surfaces could provide a viable method for reducing microbial contamination of high touch surfaces in hospitals.

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Mendez, A R, Tan, T Y, Low, H Y, Otto, K H, Tan, H & Khoo, X 2018, 'Micro-textured films for reducing microbial colonization in a clinical setting', Journal of Hospital Infection, vol. 98, no. 1, pp. 83-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2017.08.001