E. coli recovery from antimicrobial hand towels used in rural households in Kenya

J Microbiol Methods. 2020 Jan:168:105776. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2019.105776. Epub 2019 Nov 9.

Abstract

An antimicrobial towel designed for repeated use was developed to prevent recontamination of washed hands after drying. This field trial in Kenya found that nearly all antimicrobial hand towels and untreated control towels were contaminated with E. coli after household use. The antimicrobial towel did not inactivate E. coli.

Keywords: Antimicrobial towel; E. coli; Hand hygiene; Kenya.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification*
  • Family Characteristics
  • Hand
  • Hand Disinfection / instrumentation*
  • Humans
  • Kenya
  • Rural Population*
  • Textiles / microbiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents