Patterns of emerging "superbugs" underscore the need for new technologies to reduce exposures to contaminants both on the combat field and in healthcare facilities here at home. New data presented from the University of Virginia at the Interscience Conference for Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in Chicago examines the efficacy of VTT-003 (Vestex) fluid barrier and antimicrobial impregnated fabric versus two bacteria strains that are resistant to many drugs. Drs. Amy Mathers and Gerald Donowitz from UVa's Department of Infectious Diseases presented their research, "Bactericidal Effect of Antimicrobial-Treated Textiles on Multi-drug Resistant Gram Negatives."

"Vestex was able to kill greater than 99.99 percent of our worst and most resistant gram negative organisms in our laboratory testing," says Mathers.

VTT-003, sold under the name Vestex, is the first in a new class of active barrier protective fabrics that are clinically proven to rapidly prevent, reduce or eliminate the acquisition and retention of contaminants on the durable, breathable fabric. "We are proud of the rich and growing evidence base for the use of Vestex. It's a research-based solution to the problem of contaminated textiles in healthcare," says Ben Favret, president and CEO of Vestagen, makers of Vestex. This presentation marks the fifth research study documenting Vestex performance characteristics.

Mathers and Donowitz tested both the antimicrobial agent used in Vestex alone and the fluid barrier and antimicrobial-impregnated Vestex fabric for its ability to kill these multi- drug resistant bacteria. The data show that the antimicrobial- treated fabric demonstrated in vitro bactericidal activity against pan-resistant A. baumannii and multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae. Further, they conclude that this could be of potential use in decreasing transmission of multi-drug resistant gram negatives in the healthcare setting.