2018, Vol. 47(6) 1152–1165 ! The Author(s) 2016 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1528083716682919 journals.sagepub.com/home/jit Article New garment proposal for prevention of spreading Gram-negative bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotic class under hospital settings Frederico Nogueira 1,2 , Ana P Gomes 2,3 and Isabel C Gouveia 2 Abstract Sensitive skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, skin inflammation and bedsores, leave patients vulnerable under hospital setting. It is important for the development of a hospital gown with ‘‘soft hand’’ properties and at the same time as a protector against nosocomial infections. Klebsiella pneumoniae has developed resistance to antibiotics in the carbapenem antibiotic class, known as carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP). CRKP is resistant to nearly all antibiotics and can kill up to 50% of infected patients. This work consisted in the development of a washable recycled silk fibroin-based gown covalently linked with an amino acid L-Cysteine(L-Cys), focused on prevention of K. pneumoniae establishment, proliferation and spreading to community, for use under hospital settings. With the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and few new therapies on the horizon, gowns adsorbed with L-Cys show to function as a barrier to the establishment and proliferation of microorganisms, providing user protection from infectious disease. This gown was knitted at a rectilinear needle loom with a Jersey knit 1 CICS-UBI – Health Sciences Research Centre, Universityof Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, Covilha ˜, Portugal 2 FibEnTech R&D Unit Textile and Paper Materials, Universityof Beira Interior, R. Marque ˆs de A ´ vila e Bolama, Covilha ˜, Portugal 3 Optical Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilha ˜, Portugal Corresponding author: Isabel Cristina Gouveia, Universidade da Beira Interior, R. Marque ˆs de A ´ vila e Bolama, Covilha ˜ 6201-001, Portugal. Email: igouveia@ubi.pt