An Improved Method for Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of the Surface of Treated Fabrics and Other Materials

Abstract

The standardized agar diffusion plate method is modified to incorporate the evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the surface of treated fabrics or any other materials such as leather, paper, and painted disc, etc. The bacterial culture is spread over the surface of the agar and the test sample is placed on the seeded agar surface. This procedure affords a direct contact and interaction of the bacteria with the sample surface. Any antimicrobial activity of the treated surface is indicated by the amount of bacterial growth on the agar in contact with the surface of the test material. This method is simple, effective, and informatory and evaluates both diffusible and nondiffusible antimicrobial agents.