Chitosan: antimicrobial action upon staphylococci after impregnation onto cotton fabric.

BACKGROUND: High levels of viable Staphylococcus aureus, which are often found on inflamed skin surfaces, are usually associated with atopic dermatitis. Textiles, owing to their high specific surface area and intrinsic hydrophilicity, retain moisture while also providing excellent environmental conditions for microbial growth and proliferation. Recently, a number of chemicals have been added to textiles, so as to confer antimicrobial activity. AIMS: To evaluate the antimicrobial action of chitosan upon selected skin staphylococci. METHODS AND RESULTS: We isolated staphylococci from normal skin of 24 volunteers and studied their survival upon contact with chitosan-impregnated cotton fabric. Low and high molecular weight chitosans were used at two concentrations; all four did effectively reduce the growth of some staphylococci (namely Staph. aureus), by up to 5 log cycles, thus unfolding a potential towards control and even prevention of related skin disorders. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest an effective, but selective antibacterial action of chitosans towards skin bacteria. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The possibility to use a natural biopolymer incorporated in a textile to alleviate and even treat some of the symptoms associated with this skin condition may raise an alternative to existing medical treatments. The selectivity observed prevents full elimination of bacteria from the skin surface, which is an advantage.