Polyurethane Impregnation for Improving the Mechanical and the Water Resistance of Polypropylene-Based Textiles.

Commercial waterborne polyurethane (PU) dispersions, different in chemistry and selected on the basis of eco-friendly components, have been applied to a common polypropylene (PP)-based woven fabric. Impregnation has been chosen as a textile treatment for improving the features of basic technical textiles in light of potential applicability in luggage and bag production. The effect of drying method, performed under conditions achieved by varying the process temperature and pressure, on the features of the treated textiles, has been verified. The prepared specimens were characterized in terms of mechanical behavior (tensile, tear and abrasion resistance) and water resistance (surface wettability and hydrostatic pressure throughout the treated textiles). The experimental results suggest an incremental improvement of the tensile features for all the investigated specimens. For tear strength, no augmentation compared to that of the neat textile, could be verified as a consequence of polyurethane treatment. Remarkable improvements of abrasion resistance were displayed for all the impregnated PP textiles. Benefits in water resistance could be attributed to the presence of hydrophobic PU in the textile weaving of the PP samples. The ultimate improvement in water resistance was dependent on drying conditions.

[Multicentre survey of post-surgical infections in Campania (Italy)]. / Multicentre survey of post-surgical infections in Campania (Italy).

The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of post-surgical infections and to assess the way of managing antibiotic surgical prophylaxis. The survey was carried out by means of a questionnaire in order to obtain diverse information such as demographics, length of pre- and post-operative hospitalization, type of surgery, intervention duration, possible antibiotic prophylaxis and onset of post-surgical infections also monitored by post-discharge ambulatory controls. Four General Surgery and five Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments in Campania (southern Italy) participated in the study, which was carried out in the period December 2001-January 2002. Overall, 410 questionnaires were collected referring to as many patients; antibiotic prophylaxis was performed in 385 (93.9%) patients. Antibiotic prophylaxis was generally managed not according to the general principles suggested by the international guidelines either for timing or for its duration or for the route of administration. Substantial differences were also noted in patient selection and antibiotic choice. Surgical site infections were recorded in 0.6% of patients undergoing clean surgery, in 5.3% of patients undergoing clean-contaminated surgery and in 3.2% of those undergoing contaminated surgery. Distant infections occurred in 1.8% and 6.5% in clean-contaminated and contaminated surgery, respectively. The results of the present study suggest the need of a continuous and accurate monitoring of post-surgical infections and the need to adopt appropriate guidelines to improve the management of surgical prophylaxis.