%0 Journal Article
%T Clinical study of antibacterial medical textiles containing polyhydroxyalkanoate oligomers for reduction of hospital-acquired infections.
%A Ma LL
%A Wei YY
%A Li J
%A Sun YY
%A Liu SR
%A Ma KM
%A Leung PH
%A Tao XM
%J J Hosp Infect
%V 149
%N 0
%D 2024 Jul 3
%M 38705475
%F 8.944
%R 10.1016/j.jhin.2024.04.009
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>The prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections remain a significant challenge worldwide, as textiles used in hospital wards are highly involved in transmission processes. This paper reports a new antibacterial medical fabric used to prepare hospital pillowcases, bottom sheets and quilt covers for controlling and reducing hospital-acquired infections.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The medical fabric was composed of blended yarns of staple polyester (PET) and degradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/polylactic acid (PLA) fibres, which were coated with polylactide oligomers (PLAO), which are environmentally friendly and safe antimicrobial agents with excellent thermal stability in high-temperature laundry. A clinical trial was conducted, with emphasis on the bacterial species that were closely related to the infection cases in the study hospital.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>After 7 days of use, 94% of PET/PHBV/PLA-PLAO fabric retained <20 colony-forming units/100 cm2 of the total bacterial amount, meeting hygiene and cleanliness standards.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>This study demonstrates the potential of fabrics containing polyhydroxyalkanoate oligomers as highly effective, safe and long-lasting antimicrobial medical textiles that can effectively reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections.