Prevention of nosocomial transmission and biofilm formation on novel
biocompatible antimicrobial gloves impregnated with silver nanoparticles
synthesized using Eucalyptus citriodora leaf extract
Abstract
Failure in the prevention of cross-transmission from contaminated gloves
has been recognized as an important factor that contributes to the
spread of several healthcare-associated infections. Ex situ coating
process with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Eucalyptus citriodora
ethanolic leaf extract as reducing and capping agents to coat glove
surfaces has been developed to prevent this mode of transmission.
Elemental analysis of coated gloves showed 24.8 Wt% silver densely
adhere on the glove surface. The coated gloves fully eradicated
important hospital-acquired pathogens including Gram-positive bacteria,
Gram-negative bacteria, and yeasts within 1 h. The coated gloves showed
significant reduction, an average of 5 logs when tested against all
standard strains and most clinical isolates (p < 0.01).
Following prolonged exposure, the coating significantly reduced the
numbers of most adhered pathogenic species, compared with uncoated
gloves (p < 0.0001), which was observed by fluorescence
microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy further confirmed that AgNPs
coated-gloves reduced microbial adhesion of mixed-species biofilms,
compared with uncoated gloves. A series of contamination and
transmission assays demonstrated no transmission of viable organisms.
Biocompatibility analysis confirmed high cell viability of HaCaT and
L929 cells at all concentrations of AgNPs tested. The coated gloves were
non-toxic with direct contact with L929 cells.