Background
People come into contact with coliform bacteria at recreational sites. Previous research
on bacteria adhering to fabrics and surfaces focused on the viability of clinically
significant microbes, but did not examine the quantity of bacteria. This study examined
the viability and quantity of coliform bacteria adhered to common fabrics.
Methods
The fabrics of 100% cotton, blended cotton, and silk were exposed to a mixture of
environmental coliform isolates. Fabrics were incubated in the dark at 25°C or 37°C
or in direct sunlight at room temperature for 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. The quantity
and viability of the bacteria were determined by the Most Probable Number technique
using Colilert reagent (IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME) and eosin methylene blue
agar, respectively.
Results
The highest numbers of bacteria were detected for each type of fabric when stored
in the dark at 25°C, whereas the lowest numbers of bacteria were detected when fabrics
were stored in the dark at 37°C. Low numbers of bacteria were detected on silk and
blended cotton exposed to sunlight at room temperature, but not 100% cotton.
Conclusion
It appears that coliform bacteria can survive on fabrics longer than previous studies
have reported. Coliform bacteria survive better in the dark, at lower temperatures,
and on fabrics that can retain moisture. These findings can be applied directly to
the viability of bacteria on clothing and potential human exposure to fecal pathogens.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 16, 2014
Footnotes
Funding/support: The research was funded by the Colonel Stephen S. and Lyla Doherty Center for Aviation and Health Research and supported by Lewis University.
Conflicts of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
