e-space
Manchester Metropolitan University's Research Repository

    Surface modifications for antimicrobial effects in the healthcare setting: a critical overview

    Adlhart, C, Verran, J ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5539-6896, Azevedo, NF, Olmez, H, Keinänen-Toivola, MM, Gouveia, I, Melo, LF and Crijns, F (2018) Surface modifications for antimicrobial effects in the healthcare setting: a critical overview. Journal of Hospital Infection, 99 (3). pp. 239-249. ISSN 0195-6701

    [img]
    Preview
    Published Version
    Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

    Download (346kB) | Preview

    Abstract

    The spread of infections in healthcare 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 (e.g. implants, catheters), 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. This review 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 with the implementation of such anticontamination measures. Different chemistry-based approaches are discussed, for instance anti-adhesive surfaces (e.g. superhydrophobic, zwitterions), contact-killing surfaces (e.g. polymer brushes, phages), and biocide-releasing surfaces (e.g. triggered release, quorum sensing-based systems). The review also assesses the impact of topographical modifications at distinct dimensions (micrometre and nanometre orders of magnitude) and the importance of applying safe-by-design criteria (e.g. toxicity, contribution for unwanted acquisition of antimicrobial resistance, long-term stability) when developing and implementing antimicrobial surfaces.

    Impact and Reach

    Statistics

    Activity Overview
    6 month trend
    297Downloads
    6 month trend
    106Hits

    Additional statistics for this dataset are available via IRStats2.

    Altmetric

    Repository staff only

    Edit record Edit record