The sterility and antimicrobial potential of 3M™ Micropore™ tape in a lower- to middle-income country

Medical adhesives such as tape are used in wound care to hold down wound dressings onto the skin. Among these, 3M™ Micropore™ tape is widely used; however, limited data are available on its sterility and antibacterial effects, especially in environments where infection control practices may be compromised. We explored the sterility and antibacterial potential of factory-packaged 3M™ Micropore™ surgical tape. This study employed a prospective, experimental laboratory-based research design. A total of 48 separate pieces of tape were assessed. To investigate sterility, a thioglycollate broth and Sabouraud dextrose with chloramphenicol agar plates were used to detect bacterial and fungal growth, respectively. To assess antimicrobial properties, pieces of tape were placed on Mueller-Hinton agar plates lawned with 0.5 McFarland suspension of Bacillus subtilis to detect zones of inhibition around the tape. All samples of the tapes analysed found no evidence of bacterial or fungal growth after appropriate incubation periods. Antibacterial activity was not demonstrated. Evidenced by our results, we can conclude that the tapes are sterile. In vitro, the tape did not possess any antimicrobial properties. Contribution: These results suggest that tape-assisted closure, together with safe tape handling, may be, in the future, an important adjunct in the plastic surgeon’s armamentarium. Especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where cost and supply constraints may limit access to sterile wound dressings, 3M™ Micropore™ tape may offer a viable alternative when applied under hygienic conditions.