Table 1 -. Comparative synthesis of the results obtained from analytical tests for the characterization of 100% cotton fabric fields employed as sterile barrier systems, unused (Control Group) and used in different use/processing time periods in the clinical practice. Jataí, GO, Brazil, 2018-2020.
| Variable of interest | Unused samples* | Samples used and processed* † % changes in relation to the unused samples | Variable trend ‡ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample use time (months) | |||||||
| 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | ||||
| Measurement (m 2 ) | 1.44 (1.44-1.44) | 1.33 (1.32-1.33) -7.6% P<0.001 | 1.32 (1.32-1.32) -8.3% P<0.001 | 1.30 (1.29-1.32) -9.7% P<0.001 | 1.31 (1.30-1.32) -9.0% P<0.001 | 1.29 (1.29-1.30) -10.4% P<0.001 | ↓ |
| Weight (g/m 2 ) | 284 (283-285) | 287 (285-288) +1.1% | 284 (281-286) 0.0% | 276 (274-276) -2.7% P=0.035 | 274 (271-276) -3.4% | 267 (267-269) -5.9% P=0.003 | ↓ |
| Number of threads | 40 (40-40) | 40 (40-40) 0% | 40 (40-40) 0% | 40 (40-40) 0% | 40 (40-40) 0% | 40 (40-40) 0% | ↔ |
| Measurement of the thread in the weft (µm) | 1003 (984-1044) | 816 (808-834) -18,6% P=0.003 | 726 (708-766) -27,6% P<0.001 | 763 (749-769) -23,9% P<0.001 | 704 (693-715) -29,8% P<0.001 | 734 (726-764) -26,8% P<0.001 | ↓ |
| Measurement of the thread in the warp (µm) | 1937 (1934-1942) | 2009 (1934-2015) +3.7% | 1925 (1881-1946) -0.7% | 1919 (1881-1946) -1.0% | 1797 (1785-1836) -7.2% P=0.005 | 1754 (1732-1770) -9.5% P<0.001 | ↓ |
| Water absorption test (mg 2 /s) | 289 (287-290) | 2579 (2448-2627) +792% P<0.001 | 2778(2719-2784) +861% P<0.001 | 2755 (2685-2797) +853% P<0.001 | 2617 (2532-2629) +806% P<0.001 | 2435 (2059-2600) +743% P=0.016 | ↑ |
| Penetration by microorganisms suspension test - German Standard Methodology 58.953 (Number of positive samples) | 0 (0-0) 0% | 0 (0-0) 0% | 0 (0-0) 0% | 0 (0-0) 0% | 0 (0-0) 0% | 0 (0-0) 0% | ↔ |
| Penetration by microorganisms suspension test – Scanning Electron Microscopy (Bacterial cells/6000x) § | 13 (9-17) | 18 (11-23) +39% | 17 (9-18) -31% | 10(9-20) -23% | 8 (7-14) -39% | 13 (12-15) 0% | ↔ |
*Values expressed as median (first quartile-third quartile) of the distribution corresponding to the experimental values; †Values are reported in bold when significantly different from the Control Group, p<0.05; ‡Qualitative comparison corresponding to the values of the variables over the entire life cycle of the device: ↑ increase; ↔ unchanged; ↓ decrease; §The 6000× view field corresponded to an area of 0.00213 mm 2