Antimicrobial Efficacy of Titanium Dioxide Coating in Operating Theaters at A Tertiary Care Hospital in Arunachal Pradesh
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: SmartCoat is a novel technology with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, isopropyl alcohol, and distilled water as the active ingredients. TiO2, along with water and oxygen, generates highly reactive OH radicals that can neutralize bacteria and other microorganisms and remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Smart coat requires air circulation and a light source for its catalytic activity. The efficacy of TiO2 in industrial setups and dental devices has been documented. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of TiO2 in preventing microbial growth in an operating theater (OT) where maximum sterility is desired to prevent sepsis and nosocomial infections. Among the four operating theaters, two were selected. Periodic swab samples taken over a period of nine months from OT 3 (Smart coated) and OT 4 (Control) showed minimal variations in terms of microbial growth in the processed swabs. The findings were statistically analyzed using a paired-sample t-test. The computed value of ‘t’ i.e., 2.084 was lower than the critical value of 3.18 at 3 deg of freedom (df) and hence was not significant. The null hypothesis cannot be rejected (p=0.129>0.05) at the 5% level of significance. SmartCoat with TiO2 was not effective in preventing microbial growth on biomedical devices in the OT. The product may not be suitable for operating theaters unless it is supplemented by other sterilization procedures. However, it can be used in other healthcare settings and in public places.
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $500
OpenAlex ID: W3216299641