Can Antimicrobial Textiles help Prevent COVID-19?
The question is often asked if COVID-19 can be transmitted on surfaces such as linens, table tops, cell phones, and door handles. If this is the case, can and will antimicrobial textiles such as those provided by Ecoequip, truly help prevent COVID-19 transmission.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the primary and most important mode of transmission for COVID-19 is through close contact from person-to-person. Based on data from lab studies on COVID-19, and what we know about similar respiratory diseases, it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. Though, this isn’t thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Nevertheless, the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 ) is stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces. According to a March 2020 study from National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists in The New England Journal of Medicine.
According to the study, coronavirus can last on:
On plastic and stainless steel for 72-hours
On cardboard for one day
On copper surfaces for 4 hours.
On glass for up to 96 hours (Imagine your cell phone!)
Generally, the harder the surface, the longer the life of coronavirus. This information has been profiled from a study by the Journal of Hospital Infection published in January 2020. An even more recent study in the September 2020 Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, showed the infectivity SARS-CoV-2 after 96 hours on surfaces made of of polystyrene plastic, aluminum, and glass. SARS-CoV-2 lost its infectivity rapidly on the aluminum surface.
As illustrated above some metals such as copper, silver, gold, and aluminum and their alloys have antimicrobial properties. They are able to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi often within a few minutes. These metals release ions when a microbe is present, and these ions penetrate the cell which destroys the DNA or RNA that makes it impossible for the virus or bacteria to become resistant to the metal. In addition, they also disable the ability of microbes to pass their genes on to other microbes and hence replicate.
Smelly masks? NO WAY!
Ready for an experiment? This is one way that proves the antibacterial properties of certain antimicrobial face masks. Use a normal reusable cotton or cotton polyester blended face mask and wear it for the entire day. After several uses, it will develop a rotten egg type odor. If it is laundered between uses (always do this), it will take longer but it will still develop the rotten egg odor. What you are actually smelling is bacteria on the face mask. Bacteria thrives and replicates rapidly in warm moist environments such as those found on the inside of a face mask. Now perform the same experiment with some of the antimicrobial face masks found at Ecoequip. Even after many uses, the mask will not smell because the antimicrobial compounds act as microbe killers.
Do Antimicrobial Face masks Kill COVID-19?
The Antimicrobial face masks found at Ecoequip can help since they are both veridical and bactericidal. Therefore, they will kill the virus that causes COVID-19 as well as most other viruses and bacteria. Please exercise extreme caution, however. These antimicrobial face masks can greatly reduce counts of SARS-CoV-2, but is not a guaranteed to kill all SARS-CoV-2 virus particles. Furthermore, any microbes that are not stopped by the face mask, are just as infectious as if there were no face mask. Always try to refrain from touching your face mask, and practice diligent hand hygiene. Finally, launder reusable face masks after each use even if they are antimicrobial.
Gregory Gicewicz is distinguished in the reusable textile industry as a tireless advocate for increasing awareness of the significant role that having high standards in the processing of healthcare laundry plays in broader infection prevention strategy. He is past-president of the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC), whose mission is to accredit laundries processing healthcare textiles based on the highest standards for patient safety and infection prevention. He is current president & CEO of Sterile Surgical Systems, a full service accredited healthcare laundry & reusable sterile surgical textile pack manufacturer.
