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Updated: May 29, 2026
07:47
An Antimicrobial Fabric Using Nano-Herbal Encapsulation of Essential Oils
Published on: April 7, 2023
Dermatophyte susceptibility varies towards antimicrobial textiles.
Timo R Hammer1, Helmut Mucha, Dirk Hoefer
1Institute for Hygiene and Biotechnology, Hohenstein Institutes, Schloss Hohenstein, Boennigheim, Germany. t.hammer@hohenstein.de
Mycoses
|September 15, 2011
Summary
Antifungal textiles show varied efficacy against dermatophytes. While effective against Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum, some treatments failed to inhibit Trichophyton mentagrophytes, highlighting the need for diverse testing organisms.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Textile Science
- Antimicrobial Materials
Background:
- Dermatophytoses are common global fungal infections.
- Textiles can act as reservoirs for fungal transmission.
- The role of antifungal textiles in preventing infection spread is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antifungal activity of various treated textiles against dermatophytes.
- To assess the potential of antifungal textiles in disrupting fungal infection chains.
- To determine the clinical relevance of textile-based antifungal interventions.
Main Methods:
- Fabrics treated with didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), poly-hexamethylenbiguanide, copper, and silver chloride were tested.
- Antifungal assays were performed using Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Candida albicans.
- Standardized tests (DIN EN 14199, DIN EN ISO 20743) and microscopic analysis of fabric sections were employed.
Main Results:
- All tested fabrics inhibited Candida albicans growth.
- Antifungal activity against Trichophyton species varied significantly.
- DDAC completely inhibited Trichophyton rubrum, but not Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
Conclusions:
- Antifungal textile efficacy is organism-dependent.
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes should be included in future textile antifungal testing protocols.
- Microscopic analysis provides valuable insights into fungal-textile interactions.
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