Silver Is Not The New Gold Standard For Washing Wrestling Clothing
Advisor(s)
Linda Young
Vicki Motz
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
McIntosh Activities Room
Start Date
19-4-2024 10:00 AM
End Date
19-4-2024 10:50 AM
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles were adhered to singlets and t-shirts by washing with SilverWorks!® to determine their efficacy in reducing wrestler exposure to contaminating microbes and minimize infection risk. Streptococcus pneumoniae was inoculated onto 5 cm squares of control and silver-treated cotton, polyester and lycra. Fabric was pressed onto blood agar plates which were then incubated overnight. There were no significant differences between bacterial load on silver treated and untreated fabrics (p=0.22). When silver-treated and control cotton squares were inoculated with a mixture of bacteria commonly found on mats, fewer bacteria survived on silver-washed samples, which was significant for Streptococcus pneumoniae (p=0.03) but not for Staphylococcus epidermidis (p=0.28), Staphylococcus aureus (p=0.27) or Bacillus subtilis (p=0.08). In practice, 32 grapplers from Ohio Northern University’s wrestling team paired off such that one wore a silver-treated cotton t-shirt, and their partner wore a control washed in detergent alone. Silver was effective in reducing bacterial contamination at low exposures (1 or 2 bouts; p = 0.03) but not high exposure (4 bouts; p=0.49). In a laboratory-based invitational simulation, Staphylococcus aureus was applied to lycra repeatedly over time and load monitored at regular intervals. Silver-treatment did not significantly reduce bacterial load (p= 0.27). It was concluded that fabric treatment with SilverWorks!® is ineffective at bacterial load reduction on fabric at the high levels encountered in the wrestling environment.
Recommended Citation
Bearer, Alex, "Silver Is Not The New Gold Standard For Washing Wrestling Clothing" (2024). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 47.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2024/Posters/47
Level of Access
Restricted to ONU Community
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Silver Is Not The New Gold Standard For Washing Wrestling Clothing
McIntosh Activities Room
Silver nanoparticles were adhered to singlets and t-shirts by washing with SilverWorks!® to determine their efficacy in reducing wrestler exposure to contaminating microbes and minimize infection risk. Streptococcus pneumoniae was inoculated onto 5 cm squares of control and silver-treated cotton, polyester and lycra. Fabric was pressed onto blood agar plates which were then incubated overnight. There were no significant differences between bacterial load on silver treated and untreated fabrics (p=0.22). When silver-treated and control cotton squares were inoculated with a mixture of bacteria commonly found on mats, fewer bacteria survived on silver-washed samples, which was significant for Streptococcus pneumoniae (p=0.03) but not for Staphylococcus epidermidis (p=0.28), Staphylococcus aureus (p=0.27) or Bacillus subtilis (p=0.08). In practice, 32 grapplers from Ohio Northern University’s wrestling team paired off such that one wore a silver-treated cotton t-shirt, and their partner wore a control washed in detergent alone. Silver was effective in reducing bacterial contamination at low exposures (1 or 2 bouts; p = 0.03) but not high exposure (4 bouts; p=0.49). In a laboratory-based invitational simulation, Staphylococcus aureus was applied to lycra repeatedly over time and load monitored at regular intervals. Silver-treatment did not significantly reduce bacterial load (p= 0.27). It was concluded that fabric treatment with SilverWorks!® is ineffective at bacterial load reduction on fabric at the high levels encountered in the wrestling environment.