title: Copper-coated textiles: armor against MDR nosocomial pathogens.
abstract: Soft surfaces in the health-care setting harbor potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi that can be transferred to patients and personnel. We evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of two types of innovative copper-coated textiles against a variety of nosocomial multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens. Five isolates each of MDR Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterococcus faecium as well as three Candida parapsilosis were tested. The antimicrobial activity of copper-coated para-aramide and copper-coated polyester swatches was compared to that of non-copper coated controls using a quantitative method. Reduction of viable colonies by >3log10 from starting inoculum was characterized as bactericidal activity. No viable colonies of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. faecium and C. parapsilosis were recovered after the first hour of contact while for A. baumannii, no viable colonies were recovered after only 15min of contact with either type of copper-coated textiles. Copper-coated para-aramide exhibited a bactericidal effect at 15min of contact with A. baumannii, at 1h with S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. faecium and C. parapsilosis and at 3h with K. pneumoniae. Copper-coated polyester was bactericidal at 15min of contact for A. baumannii and at 1h for the other species tested. Both copper-coated textiles exhibited a rapid and significant antimicrobial effect. Antimicrobial textiles may have a role in the arsenal of strategies aiming to reduce environmental contamination in the health-care setting.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Laboratory, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital "Attikon", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1 Rimini Str, 124 62, Chaidari, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Galani
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Irene
authors.affiliation: Technological Education Institute of Pireaus, School of Applied Technology, Thivon 250, 12244, Egaleo, Greece.
authors.forename: Priniotakis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Georgios
authors.affiliation: Technological Education Institute of Pireaus, School of Applied Technology, Thivon 250, 12244, Egaleo, Greece.
authors.forename: Chronis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ioannis
authors.affiliation: Technological Education Institute of Pireaus, School of Applied Technology, Thivon 250, 12244, Egaleo, Greece.
authors.forename: Tzerachoglou
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anastasios
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Laboratory, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital "Attikon", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1 Rimini Str, 124 62, Chaidari, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Plachouras
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diamantis
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Laboratory, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital "Attikon", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1 Rimini Str, 124 62, Chaidari, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Chatzikonstantinou
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marianthi
authors.affiliation: Nanobranes, Gentstraat 367, Oostakker, Belgium.
authors.forename: Westbroek
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Philippe
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Laboratory, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, University General Hospital "Attikon", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1 Rimini Str, 124 62, Chaidari, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: msouli@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Souli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maria
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects*; D013784:Textiles
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003300:Copper
keywords: Antimicrobial textiles; Copper oxide; Health care associated infections; Multidrug resistant