->Researchers have developed a new bacteria and virus-killing coating helping the world tackle the growing problem of drug-resistant superbugs.
->The researchers set out to investigate a way to use one of the most commonly used materials in hospitals – plastics – to destroy infectious microorganisms. Microbial contamination of plastic surfaces is a significant source of hospital-acquired infections.
->Transmission of bacteria through fomites is a significant issue in healthcare, with up to 40% of nosocomial infections occurring from infected healthcare operatives’ hands and via high-touch environmental surfaces.
->Contaminated surfaces, including plastic surfaces, can act as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes, encouraging the spread of antimicrobial resistance across bacterial species through horizontal gene transfer despite deep cleaning practices.
->Antimicrobial surfaces have been developed to prevent the contamination of abiotic surfaces by pathogenic species. These surfaces operate on the principle of preventing microbial attachment to the surface or release biocides to kill pathogenic microorganisms.
->Researchers addressed this issue, by binding a disinfectant with the polymer to create a new coating material and discovered not only does it act very quickly, killing bacteria within 30 minutes, it also does not spread into the environment or leach from the surface when touched. To produce these antimicrobial surfaces, chlorhexidine, a broad-spectrum biocide was attached to nitrided acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
->Authors in this study, demonstrate the ability to extend this coating technology to plastic, creating surfaces that are highly effective against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria , pathogenic fungi, and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 as well as displaying durability against leaching. This technology can be widely applicable in preventing the spread of fomite infection.
Link to the article: bit.ly/3ouFFrZ
Published On: /05/2023
