The research and analysis of the bactericidal properties of the spacer knitted fabric with the UV-C system

The research and analysis of the bactericidal properties of the spacer knitted fabric with the UV-C system are presented in this paper. The disintegration factor affecting the bacteria in the knitted fabric is the UV-C radiation in the range of 265–270 nm distributed via woven optical fibres. The way of integrating elements of the system generating the UV-C radiation in the structure of the spacer knitted fabric was designed, as well as various configurations of optical fibres arrangement, fibre density, number of radiation sources, and diode types were tested. The material was contaminated with selected microorganisms indicative of sanitary contamination and important in terms of nosocomial infections. The scope of the research included microbiological (quantitative and qualitative) analyses of selected taxonomic groups of microorganisms (mesophilic bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes) before and after the irradiation process. The analysis of the research results and the applied modification of the knitted fabric turned out to be effective in reducing the amount of potentially pathogenic microorganisms.