A new procedure for the determination of barrier properties of medical textiles

Abstract

To determine microbial banner properties, a new method for testing medical textiles in the dry state has been developed. Aerobic bacterial spores Geobacillus Stearothermophilus and Bacillus Atrophaeus were used. Tests were carried out after 1, 10 and 20 cycles of washing and sterilizing a polyester cotton blend fabric as well as a lyocell fabric. The test results achieved using the new procedure showed that in medical cellulose textiles a certain bacterial porosity in case of a contamination of cellulose medical textiles with an extreme amount of aerobic bacterial spores occurs, while the materials used under real hospital conditions show very good qualities of the microbial barrier after washing and sterilizing. The results achieved show that the tested medical cellulose materials can be used as an effective microbial barrier.