Hohenstein strives to make hospital wear safer

Nosocomial infections however are not only due to bacteria, often human-pathogenic fungi are the cause of a hospital infection. For diabetics or immuno-suppressed patients, such viral infections (mycoses) can sometimes be fatal. Virus infections, e.g. with the Norovirus, also play an important role in nosocomial infections. The examination of the effectiveness level of antimicrobially active textile fibres in relation to fungi or viruses requires further test systems.

The standard EN 14119 is based for instance on an agar diffusion test which is used for moulds (e. g. Aspergillus niger, Chaetomium globosum u. a.). Suspension tests according to DIN EN ISO 20743 or ISO 22196 can also be modified depending on the application. The list of the test strains stated in the standards has been expanded at the Hohenstein Institute with additional germs, such as the yeast Candida albicans, the pathogen of athlete's foot disease Trychophyton mentagrophytes and the test virus MS2.

More hygiene and wear comfort thanks to cellulose regenerated fibres

Within the framework of the AiF Research Project (AiF-No. 16039 BG) scientists from the Hohenstein Institute, in cooperation with the Thuringia Institute for Textile and Plastics Research (TITK) and the Saxony Textile Research Institute (STFI), have developed rental-suitable antimicrobial workwear based on cellulose regenerated fibres and then classified these in relation to their processing and characteristics of use.

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