This study examined whether antibacterial finishes can effectively reduce the presence of bacteria on fabric used for health care workers' uniforms (HCWUs). The specific objectives of this research were (a) to compare the antibacterial property (percentage bacterial reduction) of a 65/35 polyester/cotton blend fabric treated with two commercially available antibacterial agents, AEGIS Microbe Shield (AMS) and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), before laundering and after 5, 10, and 25 laundering cycles and (b) to determine which agent may be a better choice for HCWU fabrics. The results provided evidence that an antibacterial finish can be an effective way to combat the problem of bacteria contamination. PHMB-treated fabrics are a good candidate for use in reusable HCWUs incurring up to 25 laundering cycles. PHMB-treated specimens had a significantly larger reduction against both Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria before laundering and after 5, 10, and 25 laundering cycles than did AMS-treated specimens and no-treatment specimens.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.