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Effects of microwave irradiation on bacteria attached to the hospital white coats

Y Kakita1, M Funatsu, F Miake

  • 1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
|August 31, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Microwave irradiation rapidly sterilizes hospital white coat fabrics, killing bacteria like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus within 20 seconds. This effective method offers a quick alternative to traditional autoclaving for medical textiles.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Materials Science
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Hospital white coats are typically sterilized using autoclaving.
  • The need for efficient and rapid sterilization methods in healthcare settings is crucial.
  • Exploring alternative sterilization techniques for medical textiles is an ongoing area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of microwave irradiation as a sterilization method for hospital white coat fabrics.
  • To determine the effectiveness of microwave sterilization against common bacterial contaminants.
  • To assess the impact of microwave irradiation on fabric integrity.

Main Methods:

  • Pieces of cotton (35%) and polyester (65%) fabric, simulating hospital white coats, were experimentally contaminated with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Contaminated fabric samples were irradiated using a commercial 2,450 MHz microwave oven.
  • Bacterial survival rates were assessed after varying irradiation times, and fabric integrity was visually inspected.

Main Results:

  • Microwave irradiation rapidly killed Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus on the fabrics, exhibiting first-order reaction kinetics.
  • After only 20 seconds of irradiation, bacterial survival dropped to below 1% of the control.
  • The fabric's water content decreased from 48% to 35% during this period, with no visible browning or crisping observed even after 10 minutes of irradiation.

Conclusions:

  • Microwave irradiation is a highly effective and rapid sterilization method for hospital white coat fabrics.
  • This technique demonstrates significant potential as a faster and potentially more accessible alternative to autoclaving for medical textiles.
  • Further research could explore optimal microwave parameters for various medical fabrics and bacterial loads.

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