SCRANTON, Pa. — August 16, 2012 — X-STATIC®, the silver-based fiber technology used widely by US
Military Forces, Olympic Athletes, NASA astronauts and hundreds of well-known consumer brands, is
now available to the healthcare textile industry. Soft surfaces constitute 90 percent of the
patient healthcare environment and include privacy curtains, lab coats, scrubs, bed linens and
cubicle curtains. Clinical studies have proven these surfaces are highly contaminated by pathogenic
organisms, which have the potential to transmit to patients and cause healthcare associated
infections (HAIs).
Healthcare associated infections take the lives of nearly 100,000 people annually and cost
billions of dollars in additional medical treatments. Although hospitals continue efforts to
improve infection control, standardized practices for soft surface bacterial management are
inadequate compared with those for hand and environmental hygiene. Further, laundering practices
are inconsistent and simply ineffective, as re-contamination occurs after laundered items are put
into use.
Textiles made with X-STATIC® silver antimicrobial technology have been clinically-proven to
inhibit the growth of bacteria directly on the surface of the fabric. X-STATIC delivers quick,
comprehensive and permanent protection with a continuous release of silver ions that lasts for the
life of the product.
“Soft surfaces represent a clear gap in everyday infection prevention practice,” said Peg
Luebbert, Infection Control Expert and Founder of Healthcare Interventions, Inc. “Hand
washing/sanitization is only effective until a healthcare worker touches a contaminated soft
surface through regular behaviors like opening a privacy curtain or retrieving a pen from a pocket.
For example, if a healthcare worker washes his/her hands and then puts those hands in a
contaminated uniform pocket before touching a patient, the risk of cross contamination still
exists.”
Products made with X-STATIC antimicrobial technology also mitigate compliance challenges
because the healthcare staff is not required to change behavior or protocols. Luebbert adds,
“Antimicrobial textiles are “engineering controls” in OSHA terms. They minimize the risk of
contamination and exposure without depending upon safe work practices by the healthcare
staff.”
Posted on August 21, 2012
Source: Noble Fiber Technologies LLC
