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The evaluation of fabrics in relation to their use as protective garments in nursing and surgery. III. Wet penetration and contact transfer of particles through clothing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

C. A. Mackintosh  and
O. M. Lidwell
C. A. Mackintosh
Affiliation:
Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, Colindale, London NW9 5HT
O. M. Lidwell
Affiliation:
The Common Cold Unit, Harvard Hospital, Coombe Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BW
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Summary

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A method is described for comparing the resistance to penetration by aqueous fluids, under rubbing contact, of a representative series of fabrics. Untreated woven fabrics are rapidly penetrated, but some non-woven synthetic materials resist penetration for much longer and tightly woven proofed cotton fabrics for prolonged periods, even after repeated washing and sterilizing. If a wetting agent is added to water, penetration occurs more quickly, but fabrics containing natural cotton are penetrated more slowly by serum.

The same fabrics were examined by a test designed to simulate transfer of dry participate material, e.g. skin scales, through them during nursing contact. The proportionate differences observed were much greater than for air dispersal during exercise and closely resembled those obtained by a laboratory rubbing test. In particular, one of the non-woven fabrics showed much greater relative penetration when examined by these methods than the relative dispersal of skin scales through it during exercise.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 85 , Issue 3 , December 1980 , pp. 393 - 403
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

References

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