Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Applied Silver, the manufacturer of antimicrobial textile treatment SilvaClean, agreed to a multi-year commercial arrangement that will see the University’s NCAA athletics program use the textile protection system to protect all team uniforms, practice clothing and locker room textiles from odor- and stain-causing bacteria.
SilvaClean is a water-based ionic silver treatment conceived alongside Cal Poly and developed and commercialized in Silicon Valley by Applied Silver Inc.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, staph bacteria that are resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics are more likely to occur in areas such as sports locker rooms where there is crowding, skin-to-skin contact, compromised skin from cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, and lack of cleanliness. In addition to highly physical contact sports such as football and wrestling, MRSA infections are increasingly common among professional and student-athletes in other sports such as soccer, basketball, lacrosse, martial arts and baseball.
“This partnership underscores Cal Poly’s commitment to providing our student-athletes with the cleanest possible environment and athletic gear to help them achieve their peak performance,” said Tim Walsh, Cal Poly Mustangs head football coach. “SilvaClean will allow us to maintain the confidence of every student-athlete by helping to prevent common but dangerous infections that can seriously impact their health and wellbeing.”
