Silver pyjamas to fight MRSA

6:00am Friday 28th April 2006

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AN unlikely new weapon in the fight against deadly hospital infections is being tested at Newham University Hospital.

Patient pyjamas made with a fabric containing threads of silver are expected to be introduced for 12 months as part of the hospital's attempts to eliminate MRSA.

The trial, which is yet to be fully approved, will test the effectiveness of the so-called See it Safe fabric developed by Toray Textiles. The Nottinghamshire-based company claim tests have shown the fabric kills 99.9 per cent of harmful bacteria in under an hour.

Consultant microbiologist Dr Peter Wilson, who heads the hospita'ls infection control team, approached Toray to offer the hospital as a site for the trial.

Patients with MRSA will be asked for their permission to take part in tests. They will then be randomly allocated either the silver-lined pyjamas or identical bedwear made with standard fabric, and monitored during treatment. They will not know which pyjamas they are wearing.

Dr Wilson said: "MRSA is an issue of concern for patients everywhere. This trial will mean we can test the effectiveness of new fabrics in helping combat MRSA and other infections.

"Silver is a very effective anti-bacterial agent and we have known that for many years. It is also very safe.

"We already have silver in a number of medical products including dressings containing silver, so this is a relatively small step from dressings covering the skin to fabric covering the skin.

"Laboratory work on the See it Safe fabric clearly demonstrates anti-bacterial activity against MRSA. This trial is the next step to seeing whether these qualities are effective in a real hospital environment."

Cathy Geddes, the hospital's director of nursing and infection control, said: "We have brought down our MRSA rates by the targeted 20 per cent through a number of measures including our clean hands campaign and strengthening our infection control procedures.

"We are delighted to be part of this trial and at the forefront of infection control technology."