Monday, DECEMBER 16, 2002

By Elizabeth Kelly, STAFF WRITER

Entrepreneur Loren Chang believes she has found a way to combat hospital infections, the nation's fourth leading cause of death.

Only heart disease, cancer and strokes kill more Americans each year than illnesses related to hospital germs, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 2 million people acquire infections each year during hospital stays, at a cost of more than $4.5 billion.

But a recent investigation conducted by the Chicago Tribune found that in 2000, nearly three-quarters of deadly hospital infections were preventable. The Tribune named unsanitary facilities, germ-laden instruments and unwashed hands as common contributors to hospital infection.

Chang's company, Torrance-based Pi-Ray America, is about to introduce an antimicrobial fabric they claim can reduce the chances of infection. The fabric can be used for anything from sheets to socks to hospital uniforms, and is said to reduce the transmission of bacteria and fungus. Pi-Ray already has produced samples of these products and expects them to hit the market within the next three months.

The antimicrobial properties of Pi-Ray's fabric comes from a technology, developed in South Korea by Aron Textiles, that embeds a powder of minerals - including zinc, silver, mica and jade - into polyester fibers. These specific antibacterial and antifungal minerals radiate far infrared rays, or pi-rays, that are said to resonate with the human body, improving circulation and activating the metabolic and immune systems, according to Pi-Ray's literature. The polyester fibers are interwoven with linen or cotton threads to create a soft, warm, static-resistant fabric.

George Jaresko, an assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Southern California and a microbiology consultant for Pi-Ray, has tested the fabric and found that it inhibited the growth of four microbes. The fabric "behaves like a topical antibiotic," Jaresko said. Two other Southern California laboratories, BioScreen Testing Services in
Torrance and BioPath Clinical Laboratory in Van Nuys, confirmed Jaresko's findings, Chang said.

As the owner of the Bell Christian retirement home in Westminster and Bell Convalescent Hospital in the city of Bell, Chang is more aware than most of the perils of hospital infection, especially among immunosuppressive populations.

So when she received a brochure about the new fabric from an uncle in Korea, she jumped at the chance to test it for herself.

"My eyes just popped out," she said, imagining the possibilities for the fabric. After arranging for what she estimates to be 30 to 40 tests, she traveled to Korea to show the results to Aron.

"They were amazed," Chang said, "because no one had ever gone that far. In Korea, the production is fashion-oriented."

Aron manufactures the fabric mainly for export to Saudi Arabia, where it is popular because of its silky quality and ultra-violet ray protection, Chang said. But after listening to her presentation, Aron granted Pi-Ray the exclusive rights to the fabric in North, Central and South America.

Most hospitals and institutions use fabric that has been chemically treated with a fire retardant, Chang said. Fabrics coated with antimicrobial treatments are also available, but she says their effectiveness diminishes with multiple washings and drying at high heat.

Pi-Ray fabric is able to maintain its antimicrobial properties because the minerals are contained within the fibers and cannot rub off, Chang said. The fabric costs slightly more than regular fabric, and far less than chemically-treated material, she said.

A month ago, Pi-Ray signed a contract with New Jersey-based Harbor Linen, which will sell linens, blankets, gowns and incontinence products made with the fabric to hospitals. Harbor also secured the rights to market undergarments and products for babies. Pi-Ray's role will be to process orders and control quality.

"We wanted to start with the hospitals because I believe we can help save a lot of people," Chang said. "After that, we will go to the public." Pi-Ray also has started talks with the military, 3M and Wal-Mart, hoping that they will use the products. The first item to become publicly available will be socks made from the Pi-Ray fabric. Jaresko says that wearing the socks is as effective for treating athlete's foot as the medication amphotericin.

In addition to socks, Chang says she can envision many uses for Pi-Ray's fabric: gauze, bandages, gloves, the fabric on airplane seating, reusable grocery bags, food coverings and air filters.

The introduction of the Pi-Ray fabric coincides with increased concern over hospital infection. In October, the CDC released guidelines for hand-washing among hospital staff aimed at preventing transmission of germs. They also have published a 12-step campaign to prevent antimicrobial resistance.

Chang sees her product as an ideal way to respond to these needs while enabling hospitals and governments to reduce their health-care budgets. She has submitted the company's findings to the CDC for review, and has encouraged the American Diabetes Association to recommend its socks for diabetic patients with poor circulation. Pi-Ray's literature also suggests that the fabric can relieve stress, improve sleep and reduce the need for vitamins.

To some, the fabric may seem like an impossible panacea, simply the latest version of snake oil. But Chang and Jaresko stand by their product's potential.

"The worst-case scenario is that the fabric doesn't do anything," Jaresko said. "But the psychological effect will still be there. The actual impact we'll be able to tell in time."

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