TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Infections acquired in hospitals took more than 103,000 lives last year according to an investigative report in the "Chicago Tribune," which was covered by nearly every news outlet, including "Good Morning America" in July 2002. Such infections now kill more than twice as many people as traffic fatalities each year.

Commonly referred to by their medical name, nosocomial infections, hospital acquired infections are now the fourth leading cause of death among Americans, and in 1995 alone cost over $4.5
billion according to estimates cited by Dr. Robert Weinstein, chair of the division of infectious diseases at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.

The Chicago Tribune story cited faulty air ventilation systems, and doctor's dirty clothing as two culprits in the spread of disease in hospitals. However, a product that has recently become available in the United States could reduce this rate significantly.

"Use of our patented fabric would virtually eliminate the places where these bacteria commonly incubate, including hospital gowns, fabric, and even ventilation systems, and would provide substantial benefits over the currently used materials," explained Loren Chang.

Chang, a registered nurse, is also president of Pi-Ray-America, the company that has made this anti-bacterial fabric available in the U.S. for the first time in cooperation with Aron Textiles of South Korea. Recent laboratory tests have shown that this fabric, which contains fibers that have been impregnated with mineral compounds, has significant anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, which could prevent the spread of hospital acquired infections.

In addition to the Tribune's report, a study published in 2000 in the Journal of Hospital Infections showed that medical student's lab coats, provided a potential source of contamination since Staphylococcus was found especially on the pockets and sleeves, especially since they often went unwashed.

A second study also released in 2000 in the American Journal of Infection Control warned that bacteria can live for extended periods of time on furniture upholstery in hospitals.

Compounding these problems, more than 2/3 of the bacteria that result in hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections are antibiotic resistant according to published reports.

Pi-Ray fabric solves this problem by eliminating even resistant forms of bacteria simply by contact.

Tests at the University of Southern California (USC), Bio-Path Clinical Laboratories in Van Nuys, Calif. and BioScreen Labs of Torrance, Calif. showed that the Pi-Ray fabric inhibited bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus Subtillis, klebsiella, Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas areoginosa, and various types of fungus including Candida albicans, and Athletic fungus.

The tests results showed that Pi-Ray fabric completely inhibits even antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus.

Dr. George Jaresko, an infectious disease therapeutics expert, and assistant dean of School of Pharmacy at the University of Southern California conducted extensive ATCC method tests on the Pi-Ray material.

"In plates using the impregnated Pi-Ray fabric, the area of the blood agar plate in contact with the Pi-Ray fabric did not grow microorganisms while in the control fabric those areas in contact with the fabric as well the areas not in contact with the fabric did show microbial growth," Dr. Jaresko said.

Moreover, Pi-Ray fabric is extremely comfortable because of its cotton content and is very versatile: it can be woven into dozens of fabrics, from undergarments to canvas.

"Our patented process impregnates fibers in the cloth with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal minerals, providing a long lasting, comfortable, and natural antimicrobial alternative to the commonly used chemically-coated materials," said Chang.

While all hospital and industrial fabrics decrease the cotton content to pass flammability standards, or heavily coat their material with chemicals, Pi-Ray fabric has passed state flammability tests while maintaining a high (70 percent) cotton content for maximum comfort.

By utilizing Pi-Ray cloth from gauze and hospital linens to uniforms and air filters, hospitals and doctors could make significant progress in fighting infection in their facilities, said Chang.

"Without doubt, Pi-ray Fabric, with its unique benefits, it has the potential to save lives, increase the comfort of millions of Americans and provide potential dollar savings," said Chang.

For information visit: http://www.sockscom.com or contact
Loren Chang, RN, N.H.A., CEO/President, 310-328-9910-7078,
info@sockscom.com

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10/29 10:38

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