INFLUENCE OF A POLYETHYLENE-GLYCOL TREATMENT ON SURFACE, LIQUID BARRIER AND ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES

Patient and medical staff safety is a serious concern since the need for protection against bacterial and viral diseases has been recognized. The level of protection provided by surgical apparel is under scrutiny. It is important to investigate fabric finishes that have shown potential for reducing risks associated with disease transmission. This study evaluated the influence of crosslinked polyethylene glycol (PEG) on properties of 100% polypropylene spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded (SMS) and 50/50 wood pulp/polyester spunlace fabrics commercially available for use in protective surgical apparel. Surface characteristics, liquid barrier performance and surface antibacterial properties were measured using established methods. Overall, PEG-treated fabrics had significantly lower oil and water repellency than control fabrics, and the finish increased fabric surface energy and hydrophilicity. The spunlace fabric was less repellent than the SMS fabric. Scanning electron micrographs document the presence of the finish on the fabric surface. For the SMS fabric at pressures of 0.25 and 0.50 psi, the PEG-treated fabric had lower synthetic blood resistance than the control fabric. All SMS fabrics failed at 0.75 psi and both control and PEG-treated spunlace specimens failed at all three pressures. Wicking was observed for treated fabrics, but not for control fabrics. Both PEG-treated fabrics inhibited bacterial growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The treated SMS fabric also exhibited antibacterial properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.