Reusing sterile cotton fabric barriers in the clinical practice: an observational and longitudinal study.

the physical properties of 100% cotton used as a sterile barrier system changed with use/processing cycles; however, these alterations did not significantly interfere with the results obtained by the tests performed on the microbiological barrier up to 85 washes. (1) Clinical use and processing exert an impact on the sterile fabric barrier system. (2) There was weight loss, reduction in size and increase in water absorption volume. (3) The longer the use, the more loose fibers. (4) Penetration by microorganisms did not increase over the 15 months of the study. (5) The physical changes of the fabric did not interfere with the fabric barrier efficiency.