I-Tex - Innovative textiles for a healthier healthcare environment

I-Tex was a research and innovation project aimed at reducing the spread of healthcare-associated infections through smarter textile materials. The project brought together stakeholders from research, healthcare, and industry to explore how intelligent textiles can contribute to cleaner, safer, and more sustainable hospital environments.

Why?
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a major societal problem and one of healthcare's biggest challenges. They cause both suffering and high costs – and lead to increased antibiotic use, which in turn drives antibiotic resistance, one of the most serious threats to human health.

Part of the problem lies in the environment itself – in the textiles we touch daily: work clothes, bed linen, curtains, and cleaning materials. I-Tex aimed to reverse the perspective: from textiles as a risk factor to textiles as an active part of the solution. Using new technology, materials that repel bacteria, materials treated with beneficial bacteria, and new methods for measuring cleaning quality were tested – all with the goal of reducing the spread of infection without increasing chemical use.

Background
The project was carried out between 2014–2016 with support from Vinnova, under the leadership of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Participants included the Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Borås, Coor Service Management, Capio S:t Göran's Hospital, Textilia, Linda Rosendahl Nordin and Joachim Åhlander from Pure Effect, and several technology and materials companies.

Results & Insights
I-Tex showed that textiles and microorganisms can interact for better hygiene – without compromising function, comfort, or the environment. The project developed and tested three main tracks:
• Hydrophobic textiles for staff uniforms that repel bacteria
• Antibacterial wipes for cleaning that reduce the spread of infection
• Probiotic textiles, treated with beneficial bacteria that could outcompete unwanted microbes

Field tests also showed that bacteria-containing cleaning solutions could change the bacterial flora in water traps and floor drains, and reduce the amount of unwanted bacteria in these known reservoirs of infection – a concrete example of how beneficial bacteria can create healthier environments.

The project contributed new knowledge about how behavior, material choices, and microbiology are interconnected, with potential for future collaborations concerning sustainable healthcare hygiene and biotechnology in practice.

Discover more
Read more about the results at:
Vinnova: I-Tex, Intelligent use of Innovative Textiles for a healthier patient-near hospital environment
The Swedish School of Textiles in Borås: I-Tex - Intelligent use of innovative textile materials for a healthier patient-near hospital environment