The Making of Lab Coats and Medical Scrubs with Permanent Antimicrobial

Frequent and regular hand washing, antimicrobial soaps and gels may not be enough in preventing harmful microbes. This is for the reason that viruses and pathogens don't only get to their hosts through the hands but they can also stick to different garments, and actually breed there. In order to solve this problem, the souk offers various clothing products which have antimicrobial properties much like the soaps and gels. In the medical business, antimicrobial nursing scrub tops, scrub pants and medical lab coats already exist. The advance of such scrubs uniforms was not impossible as the healthcare long have the dressing and sanitary materials already. However, the today's medical scrubs' and lab coats' antimicrobial properties most likely to weaken eventually as they are washed.However there is a way to address the problem. This is to create medical scrubs and uniforms having permanent antimicrobial properties. There are already scientists currently working on developing textiles that are capable of keeping extreme antimicrobial properties despite repetitive wash and wear. To make this possible, the NSF or National Science Foundation sponsored a research in the mid of year 2005, wherein the North Carolina State University's Women's Expedition Parkanuclear and textile engineers worked with Egypt's National Research Center textile scientists to create the textiles with permanent antimicrobial properties.With the use of natural antimicrobial agent called chitosan into the altered molecular structure of fibers, a number of dangerous microorganisms, namely lactobacillus planterum, e-coli and staphylococcus aureus, are taken care of. Chitosan is also effective in depressing the growth of methicilin resistant staphylococcus aureus by slowing down its growth. And with its capability to form insoluble network having embedded or chemically bonded with the cellulose or molecular fiber structure, the antimicrobial properties of end products can really become permanent.To attain permanent antimicrobial properties with medical scrubs and lab coats, the textiles to be used need to have the following characteristics: Capability to stand usages and washing; effective control on a wide range of microorganisms, including the deadly viruses; antimicrobial effect should be contained on the surface of the textile to not interfere with friendly bacteria, must not contain toxic migrating substances that can harm both the manufacturer and consumer and the fabric quality must retained with the application.The US Special Forces, the NASA astronauts and Olympic athletes, are currently provided with the performance uniforms having permanent antimicrobial properties for unmatched protection. It's made possible by the use of 99.9% pure silver delivery system. In the future, the healthcare industry will benefit from such smart textile advancements. Doctors and nurses will also have utmost protection from harmful pathogens commonly found in their place of work.