Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of a powered coverlet (PCL) to control moisture, reduce skin temperature, and help control odor and microbial growth at the skin/support-surface interface.
Subjects and setting: A human torso was simulated using a water temperature-regulated loading gauge. The PCL is a 3-tier coverlet composed of vapor-permeable, liquid-impermeable layers with a foam spacer inbetween and a fan blower to draw moisture and heat away from the patient's skin through the spacer.
Methods: A fabric moisture reservoir simulated sweating skin. It was placed between the simulated human torso and pressure redistribution support surface. A change in moisture reservoir weight was used to calculate moisture vapor transfer rate; temperature and relative humidity at the support surface interface were recorded as a function of time. To test for odor control, a malodorous compound was applied daily to the coverlet with and without power for 30 days in a laboratory setting. In a separate test, both a PCL and a standard hospital sheet were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus and incubated at 32°C to observe the PCL's ability to mitigate microbial growth.
Results: Results indicated a higher moisture vapor transfer rate with the PCL as compared to a standard hospital bed sheet (129.5 g/m/h vs 34.1 g/m/h, P < .005). The PCL also had a larger reduction in skin temperature (1.1ºC vs 0.7ºC, P = .13) when compared to control. Gas chromatography analysis showed that the PCL helped control odor better than a non-PCL (P < .05). At 24 hours, the PCL showed greater than 2 log difference of S aureus over the standard hospital sheet (P < .05).
Conclusions: These studies indicate the potential ability of the PCL to remove moisture at the patient/support-surface interface, thus creating a microenvironment with improved moisture management and reduction in odor and microbial growth.