Effect of Antimicrobial Fibers on the Resistant Strains of Staphylococcus Isolated from Wounds

BACKGROUND:
Some needs of patients can be provided by application of antimicrobial fibers in fabrics preparation. The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial effect of a particular kind of these fibers.

METHODS:
The antimicrobial fibers were produced by Isfahan Poly Acryl company. We studied three resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, one Staphylococcus epidermidis strain and one standard Staphylococcus aureus strain (ATCC6538p=PTCC1112).
At first sensitivity of sample strains to the controlling effect of pure antimicrobial agent was proved, and then their MIC was determined with agar dilution method. In the next stage, the effect of antibacterial activity of antibacterial fibers on these strains was studied before and after washing. The effect of antimicrobial pure agent of fibers was compared with the effect of penicillin G as the first selected antibiotic for treatment of Staphylococcus originated infections.

FINDINGS:
Antimicrobial fibers containing 30%, 60% and 100% antimicrobial agent had significant effects on Staphylococcus strains after 24 hours. In spite of the high MIC of penicillin G on these bacteria (32-64 µg/ml), the antibacterial pure agent of fibers with a MIC about 10-4 µl/ml inhibited the bacteria growth.

CONCLUSION:
The results confirmed the antibacterial activity of examined fibers in preventing and controlling nosocomial infections resulted from Staphylococcus sp. We hope that clinical trial in the near future would provide the possibility of using these fibers in clinical experiences.

KEY WORDS:
Antimicrobial Fibers, Staphylococcus Aureus, Staphylococcus Epidermidis, Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC); Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC)