Escherichia Coli Change Clinical Trial
Official title:
Improving the Supertowel: An Alternative Hand Cleaning Product for Emergencies
The Supertowel is a microfiber towel treated with a permanent anti-microbial bonding and has
been designed as a soap alternative in emergency situations.The treated fabric must be dipped
in water and then rubbed against the hands so that pathogens will be transferred to the
fabric where they will be killed. Over the last two years the investigators have been able to
prove, under controlled laboratory conditions, that hand cleaning with the Supertowel is more
efficacious than handwashing soap and water. Another field study conducted by the
investigators in a refugee camp in Northern Ethiopia indicated that the Supertowel is an
acceptable and desirable product among crisis-affected populations and is likely to result in
more frequent handwashing in these difficult circumstances.
The aim of this study is to develop greater evidence on whether the Supertowel remains is as
efficacious when used under conditions which mimic "real-world hand cleaning conditions".
This will be tested through a set of controlled laboratory experiments with healthy
volunteers in India.
The Supertowel is a microfiber towel treated with a permanent anti-microbial bonding and has
been designed as a soap alternative in emergency situations.
The treated fabric must be dipped in water and then rubbed against the hands so that
pathogens will be transferred to the fabric where they will be killed. Several laboratory
test have demonstrated the bactericidal effect of the fabric against different bacteria. The
Supertowel will kill microbes efficiently and within seconds once the microbe is on the
towel. The Supertowel provides an alternative to large-scale soap distribution. It could be
beneficial to emergency responders as it will be easier (smaller and lighter) to distribute
and last longer than soap, negating the need for frequent distributions. The Supertowel will
reduce water wastage associated with hand washing and reduce drainage problems that are often
seen around hand washing facilities. The Supertowel will also be beneficial to those effected
by emergencies as it can easily be carried by users all the time, making hand cleaning more
convenient.
Over the last two years the investigators have been able to prove, under controlled
laboratory conditions, that hand cleaning with the Supertowel is more efficacious than
handwashing soap and water. Another field study conducted by the investigators in a refugee
camp in Northern Ethiopia indicated that the Supertowel is an acceptable and desirable
product among crisis-affected populations and is likely to result in more frequent
handwashing in these difficult circumstances.
The aim of this study is to develop greater evidence on whether the Supertowel remains is as
efficacious when used under conditions which mimic "real-world hand cleaning conditions".
This will be tested through a set of controlled laboratory experiments with healthy
volunteers in India. We will be testing the efficacy of the Supertowel as a hand-cleaning
product using simulations of 'real-world' hand cleaning conditions.
To test the efficacy of the Supertowel under the different conditions, we will use a
crossover controlled study based and adapted on the protocol of the European Committee for
Standardization (EN 1499) which is designed to evaluate the ability of hand-wash agents to
eliminate transient pathogens from volunteers' hands without regard to resident
microorganisms. This procedure is based on the "post-contamination treatment" of hands and
involves the placement of the test organism (E. coli [ATCC 11229]) on the hands of test
subjects, followed by exposure of the test product.
The study will be organized in two rounds of tests. 32 healthy volunteers will be selected
for the study. 16 volunteers will be invited for the first round and 16 more for the second
round. Each volunteer will receive treatment with all the different procedures the same day
of visit to the laboratory.
This is a single centre study conducted in KET's Scientific Research Centre, Mumbai (India).
The recruitment and performance of tests will be done at KET's Scientific Research Centre,
Mumbai (India) Laboratory of India.
;