Science made a recent discovery that perhaps the rest of us already knew about or at least we had heard that it was a possibility...using 

hemp in fabric can keep nasty bacteria away. On Sunday, June 16, researchers released a recent study conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) that was conducted to see how long the bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) could survive on fabrics used in hospital, clinical and long term care homes. Basically, after reading a few fancy medical jargon laid articles, it seems that the findings of this study were that MRSA and other bacteria was able to survive from one to 90 days on the fabric surfaces of cotton, polyester, and polyethelene. In a study of 1,237 hospitals and residential health care homes researchers found that 3.4% of patients were infected with MRSA. This is increasingly higher than the CDC's findings in 2005 of 0.4%. So why does this matter and what's the skinny on MRSA? MRSA came onto the bacteria scene in the 1970's and since then it was become a powerhouse of bacteria literally mutating itself to become resistant to antibiotics. An article found in the San Francisco Chronicle states, "It is estimated that each year 2 million Americans become infected during hospital stays, and at least 90,000 of them die. MRSA is a leading cause of hospital-borne infections." The study conducted found that materials made of up hemp (ahem like our Duo Hemp Prefold and our Hemp Inserts) are 90% more effective at not only protecting someone from a Staph infection but it also kills the potent bacteria. "Staph is spread by direct contact and by touching items that are contaminated such as towels, sheets, privacy curtains, and clothing," a press release from EnviroTextile found on PRWeb.com explains. This is why the finding that hemp is able to not only kill bacteria but it's 90% effective is monumental not only for healthcare providers worldwide but also for those of us who use cloth diapers. Hemp is surprisingly absorbent and thin so it doesn't bulk up the way other fabrics will. Thirsties' Duo Hemp Prefold has eight layers of hemp in the middle of the prefold making it 25% more absorbent than other prefolds. Now with its super MRSA fighting power and it's absorbent prowess, what do you think?