Medical textile materials with odor-control properties

4 Medical textile materials with odor-control properties 

In essence, an odor-management strategy considers both the cause of odor generation and the management of odor with textile-based materials. Firstly, odor control can be achieved through the use of antimicrobial materials to control the growth of bacteria and fungi. Secondly, absorbent materials can be incorporated into textiles to absorb malodor and odorous volatiles. Thirdly, textile materials can be used to disperse scents to mask the malodor. These methods are described below. 

In recent years tea tree oil has found widespread uses as an antimicrobial agent. It is an essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous smell and a color that ranges from pale yellow to nearly colorless and clear. Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of Melaleuca altemifolia, which is native to southeast Queensland and the northeast coast of New Sonth Wales, Anstralia. When incorporated into textile materials, its antimicrobial effect is effective in a variety of dermatologic conditions, inclnding dandruff, acne, lice, herpes, and other skin infections. 

Humans are highly sensitive to the influence of odors in their living environment, and human emotions such as relaxation, exhilaration, sensuality, happiness, and well-being are closely related to odors that stimulate the olfactory pathways in the brain and, in particular, the limbic system. Throughout the world, the application of fragrances to mask the presence of unpleasant odors has been a common method employed to refresh a domestic environment. Personal hygiene products and cosmetics are frequently scented in order to mask natural odors emanating from the body. Perfumed substances in the form of an aerosol, liquid, or solid are often sprayed or rubbed directly on to the skin. 

In the wound-management industry where odor control is much required, a new approach was adopted in 1976, when Butcher et al. first described the use of an activated charcoal cloth developed by the Chemical Defence Establishment in Por-ton Down, UK. This material was incorporated into pads containing surgical gauze and water-repellent fabric. When these pads were nsed in the treatment of fungating breast cancer, gangrene, and colostomies, the associated odors were said to be totally suppressed. 

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