Surface Modifications For Antimicrobial Effects in the Healthcare Setting: A Critical Overview

Publication date: Available online 2 February 2018 Source:Journal of Hospital Infection Author(s): Christian Adlhart, Joanna Verran, Nuno F. Azevedo, Hulya Olmez, Minna M. Keinänen-Toivola, Isabel Gouveia, Luis F. Melo, Francy Crijns The spread of infections in health care environments is a persistent and growing problem in most countries, aggravated by the development of microbial resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants. In addition to indwelling medical devices (implants, catheters, etc.), such infections may also result from adhesion of microbes either to external solid-water interfaces such as shower caps, taps, drains, etc, or to external solid-gas interfaces such as door handles, clothes, curtains, computer keyboards, etc. The latter are the main focus of the present work, where an overview of antimicrobial coatings for such applications is presented. The paper addresses well-established and novel methodologies, including chemical and physical functional modification of surfaces to reduce microbial contamination, as well as the potential risks associated to the implementation of such anti-contamination measures. Different chemistry-based approaches are discussed, in particular anti-adhesive surfaces (e.g., superhydrophobic, zwitterions, etc.) contact-killing surfaces (e.g., polymer brushes, phages, etc.) and biocide-releasing surfaces (e.g., triggered release, quorum sensing-based systems, etc.). The paper also assesses the impact of topographical modific...

Source: Journal of Hospital Infection - February 3, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research