2. History
• The use of silver for medical and
therapeutic benefits dates back
thousands of years.
• Romans were the first to note and
document the “magical healing” powers
of silver, and they use it to cover wounds.
• Cyrus the Great, in the 5th Century B.C.,
only allows his troops go to war if they
were carrying water in silver utensils,
something he knew would keep the water
clean and safe.
3. History CONT
• At the start of the 19th century, silver was
considered as the first antibiotic & silver
foils were used as wound dressing.
• Today, silver is used for its broad-spectrum
antimicrobial properties in healthcare
products ranging from bandages to burn
care treatments to catheters, medical
stockings, diabetic stockings, anti-
microbial and anti fungi underwear etc.
4. Mode of Action
Antimicrobial kills or inhibits microorganisms by:
Cell wall damage
Inhibition of cell wall synthesis
Alteration of cell wall permeability
Inhibition of synthesis of proteins & nucleic acids
Inhibition of enzyme action
Some examples of antimicrobial agents include:
Metals and metal salts by deactivating proteins
Quaternary ammonium salts by damaging the
membrane
N-Halamines by oxidation
5. Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs)
• Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs), are
infections that appear after 48 hours of
admission to a hospital or any healthcare facility.
These are urinary tract, surgical site, lung and
bloodstream infections.
• Despite the steps taken to reduce HAIs, they still
remain one of the world's leading and most
costly healthcare challenges.
• HAIs are extremely costly, in human and
financial terms but all are preventable.
6. Cost of HAIs
• The Human Cost
Each year, nearly 2 million1 patients in U.S.
acquire HAIs, and nearly 0.1 million2 die as a
result HAIs.
• 70% of HAI is caused drug-resistant bacteria .
• R. Monina Klevens, DDS, MPH, et al; Estimating Health Care-Associated Infections
1,2
and Deaths in U.S. Hospitals, 2002; Public Health Reports, March-April 2007
7. Cost of HAIs cont
• The Financial Cost
Hospital stays for patients who acquire a HAIs
increase an average of 7-10 days, at an
incremental treatment cost of over $30,000 per
patient1.
• The total annual cost to the healthcare industry,
is nearly $45 billion2.
• Again, much of which is preventable.
• 1. R. Douglas Scott II, Economist Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion National
Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases Coordinating Center
for Infectious Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
• 2.The Direct Medical Costs of Healthcare-Associated Infections in U.S. Hospitals and the
Benefits of Prevention, March 2009
8. Environmental
Contamination.
• Contamination of textiles
in healthcare settings
• A 2008 study1 for detecting the contamination
rate of privacy curtains, showed that "42% of
hospital privacy curtains were contaminated
with VRE (vancomycin resistant enterococci)
and 22% with MRSA (methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus
aureus)."
1
Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology
2008; 29:1074—1076
9. MDRO contamination is widespread
on textiles.
• A 2008 study1 on healthcare uniforms in a 550
—bed general hospital showed that:
▫ Up to 50% of uniforms used by doctors and
nurses are colonized by pathogenic bacteria.
▫ Up to 28% of isolated pathogens are
multidrug resistant.
1
M. Galuty, et al.; Clinical Findings, Healthcare
Uniforms and Infections, Presented at the Infectious
Diseases Society of America Conference, 2008
10. Cross-contamination of MDRO's from
textile-to-human.
• A 2008 study for detection of contamination of
hands from uniforms especially pockets showed,
that pathogens were transferred to hands and
MRSA contamination ranges 80.0%.1
• 1
Trillis F. Contamination of Hospital
Curtains With Healthcare—Associated
Pathogens. Infection Control and
Hospital Epidemiology. November 2008.
11.
12. Bacterial Management of Soft Surfaces
• Soft surfaces cover 90% of a patient's contact
environment, and are constantly exposed to
bacteria between launderings.
• Due to this frequency of contamination,
laundering of bed linens, scrubs, privacy
curtains, patient gowns and divider curtains is
insufficient to reduce cross-contamination.
• Hand hygiene is only effective until
recontamination occurs—which happens
immediately upon touching a contaminated soft
surface.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17. Antimicrobial Textile is the answer
Antimicrobial textile finishes must exhibit:
• Effective control of bacteria, molds and fungi.
• Absence of toxic effects for both the manufacturer and
the consumer.
• Durability to laundering and dry cleaning.
• No adverse effects on the fabric.
• Acceptable moisture transport properties.
• Compatibility with other finishing agents.
• Easy application, compatibility with common textile
processing.
18. What is it X-STATIC ?
• The X-STATIC fiber has a layer of
pure silver permanently bonded
to the surface of a textile fiber.
The process is such that the fiber,
with its silver layer, retains
traditional textile and tactile
characteristics. It can be used in
knits, woven and non- woven as a
filament or yarn.
• X-STATIC offers all the benefits
known to be inherent to pure
silver, only in a new format:
A textile fiber.
19. X-STATIC® - Pure Protection.
• Fibers are permanently bonded with a layer of
99.9% pure metallic silver. This silver layer is the
key for powerful antimicrobial properties, as it
creates an ionic shield that permanently inhibits
the growth of bacteria and fungi.
• Broad-spectrum antimicrobial fibers are the right
solution for long-term bacterial management for
soft surfaces by eliminating bacteria on the textile
surface, thus can reduce the risk of
cross-contamination.
20. X-STATIC® - Pure Silver.
Fabrics made with X-STATIC® fibers are flexible,
with the natural look and feel of traditional textiles,
while offering all the benefits of pure silver.
21.
22. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• X-STATIC® is registered as antimicrobial agent by
EPA (United States Environmental Protection
Agency).
• In addition to its use in healthcare settings,
X-STATIC® is also used by-
• NASA for dresses under space suits.
• Athletes in Olympics.
• Military for uniforms.
• Because X-STATIC eliminates 99.9% of bacteria
from the fabric, giving ongoing,
comprehensive & proactive anti-microbial
protection.
23.
24. X-STATIC® Benefits:
• Clinically proven efficacy.
• Broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties.
• Fast acting - up to 4-log reduction within one
hour.
• Long lasting - continuous performance until the
life of the product.
• Safe –
No chemical treatment.
No nanotechnology.
No bacterial resistance issues.
Non-toxic.
25. Research Studies
CLINICAL STUDY on Privacy Curtains
• "MRSA contamination was found 63% less in
silver curtains than in control curtains."
• Dr. Tim Boswell, QMC Hospital, November 2008
26. CLINICAL STUDY on Linens & Patient
Pajamas
• Clinical trial for MRSA control showed "66.7% of
patients using the silver fabric had eradicated
MRSA while 0% eradicated MRSA in the control
group"
• Dr. P. Wilson, Lister Hospital, 2009
27. CLINICAL STUDY on Nurses' Uniforms
• X-STATIC uniforms even after the 100 washing
showed "The total contamination was reduced
by 72.2%. The total number of all HAIs
pathogens was reduced by an average of 93.6%
within an hour."
• Klaus-Dieter Zastrow, M.D., Physician in Environmental Medicine, July 2009
28. Antimicrobial fabric Products
• Privacy Curtains
• Due to infrequent washing (twice
per year in most facilities) and
being continuously touched by
caregivers, patients and visitors,
untreated privacy curtains harbor
staggering rates of bacterial
contamination and are a major
cause of infection transmission.
• Privacy curtains made with X-
STATIC fabric deliver
comprehensive and continuous
protection.
29. Antimicrobial fabric Products
• Door Handle
Protectors
• Door handles are the most
frequently touched object
in a healthcare setting.
• To prevent cross-
contamination door handle
covers made with X-
STATIC fabric can provide
comprehensive and
continuous protection.
30. Antimicrobial fabric Products
• Furniture Seats
• These can't be washed,
only spot cleaning is
possible so seat fabric
requires the highest level
of antimicrobial
performance to ensure
safety.
• X-STATIC fabric seats
cover offers a great
opportunity to control
bacterial cross-
contamination.
31. Antimicrobial fabric Products
• Lab coats
• Lab coats made with X-
STATIC protect the lab
coat from bacterial
growth.
• These lab coats also
provides superior
comfort by regulating
temperature &
eliminating odors.
32. Antimicrobial fabric Products
• Scrubs
• Uniforms made with
X-STATIC eliminate
99.9% of bacteria
directly on the fabric,
giving ongoing
comprehensive and
proactive anti-
microbial protection.
33. Antimicrobial fabric Products
• Support Surfaces
• Bedding
• Patient Positioning
Products
Laundering alone isn't
effective, because
recontamination of
fabrics begins
immediately after
being put in use.
34. In 2012 An Historic Moment:
DNA Imaged with Electron Microscope for the First Time
Corkscrew Thread of the DNA Double Helix