Testing, characterisation and regulations of antimicrobial textiles

Abstract

Nowadays, antimicrobial textile has been widely applied in several sectors, including hospitals and healthcare centres, food industry, clothing industry and in domestic environment. Antimicrobial textiles are particularly used in active patches and dressings for wound healing, infection prevention and control (IPC) articles, deodorization and anti-fungi clothing, among other applications. This chapter reviews the characterization, standard testing methods as well as existing regulations in Europe and the United States for antimicrobial textiles. Antimicrobial textiles were characterized based on their application area. A summary of the efficacy testing standards on antimicrobial textiles was presented and critically discussed. Safety evaluation, comprising the risk assessment was also introduced. The increasing use of antimicrobial textiles is in need of further development of regulations and international testing standards for safety and efficacy evaluation in vitro including preclinical testing if applicable. Moreover, particular attention was given to the development of durability test standards.