Factors Affecting the Persistence of Staphylococcus aureus on Fabrics

Abstract

The persistence of Staphylococcus aureus (Smith) on wool blanket, wool gabardine, cotton sheeting, cotton knit jersey, cotton terry cloth, and cotton wash-andwear fabrics was studied. The fabrics were exposed to bacterial populations by three methods: direct contact, aerosol, and a lyophilized mixture of bacteria and dust having a high content of textile fibers. The contaminated fabrics were held in 35 or 78%o relative humidities at 25 C. In general, the persistence time of S. aureus populations on fabrics held in 35% relative humidity was substantially longer when the fabrics were contaminated by exposure to aerosolized cultures or to dust containing bacteria than when contaminated by direct contact. In a 78% relative humidity, bacterial populations on the fabrics persisted for substantially shorter periods of time regardless of the mode of contamination or fabric type. Cotton wash-and-wear fabric (treated with a modified triazone resin) was the material on which populations of S. aureus persisted for the shortest time. This organism retained its virulence for Swiss mice after being recovered from wool gabardine swatches held 4 weeks in 35% relative humidity and 6 weeks in 78% relative humidity.

Survival of Enterococci and Staphylococci on Hospital Fabrics and Plastic

“…For staphylococci, our results are consistent with those of Wilkoff et al (17), who reported that one S. aureus isolate lived 1 week on cotton and 2 weeks on terry. In contrast, Scott and Bloomfield (12) showed S. aureus surviving only 4 to 24 h on cloth; however, their inocula were low (10 2 CFU).…”

“…While most previous studies have tested survival of principally staphylococci using cotton as a representative fabric (2,12,17), the present study examined the survival of enterococci, including VRE, and staphylococci, on a number of different fabrics. Most of the bacteria tested in this study survived longer on polyester than on cotton.…”

“…Few studies have examined the viability of gram-positive bacteria on fabrics, and those that have tested survival of staphylococci primarily on cotton (2,12,17). However, there are many other garment materials and fabrics, especially synthetics and cotton-synthetic blends, that are used more often than cotton in hospitals today.…”

Transfer of bacteria from fabrics to hands and other fabrics: development and application of a quantitative method usingStaphylococcus aureusas a model

“…Vortexing was selected because it required fewer handling steps, thus reducing the chances of sample contamination and the risk of exposure of the laboratory personnel to the test bacterium. In previous studies (Wilkoff et al 1969), fabrics were eluted by cutting them into smaller pieces before macerating them in saline.…”

The Use of Disinfectants in the Home

“…As might be predicted, the majority of organisms deposited on clothing, bedclothes and other items die rapidly; it has been shown by Wilkhoff et al (1969), however, that substantial populations of organisms such as Staph. aureus impregnated onto cotton and wool fabrics samples may remain viable and infective for considerable periods.…”