In Vitro and In Vivo Testing of Microbe Growth on Antimicrobial Nursing Scrubs

Area of Science:

• Infection control
• Microbiology
• Textile science

Background:

• Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) affect 5-10% of patients.
• Healthcare worker attire, including scrubs, can act as a vehicle for pathogen transmission.
• Antimicrobial fabric coatings are a potential strategy to mitigate HAI risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of coated versus uncoated scrubs.
• To compare laboratory (in vitro) findings with real-world clinical (in vivo) performance.
• To assess the impact of environmental humidity on antimicrobial fabric effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• In vitro: Scrub fabric swatches (coated and uncoated) inoculated with *S. aureus* were tested in moist and dry conditions.
• In vivo: A clinical trial measured bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) on scrubs worn by nurses over 12-hour shifts.
• Both protocols assessed microbial growth on treated and untreated fabric samples.

Main Results:

• In vitro studies showed minimal microbial growth on coated fabrics in high humidity, unlike untreated fabrics.
• In low humidity, both coated and uncoated fabrics showed minimal growth in vitro.
• In vivo, bacterial CFUs increased on scrubs regardless of coating, with no significant difference between coated and uncoated samples after a 12-hour shift.

Conclusions:

• Antimicrobial coatings are effective in inhibiting bacterial growth in vitro, particularly in moist environments.
• The ineffectiveness in vivo may be due to insufficient contact time between the antimicrobial fabric and microbes.
• Further research is needed to optimize antimicrobial textile applications for healthcare settings.