The present approach is mostly focused on decontamination of solid air interfaces in health-care units, such as hospital furniture, door-handles, computer keyboards, textiles etc. with disinfectants, although solid liquid surfaces are also of great concern in hospitals such as faucets, showers, pipes and drains, where biofilms occur frequently. New methods, in addition to or as an alternative to appropriate use of disinfectants and antibiotics are required to reduce microbial associated infections and to reverse the dramatic increase in antimicrobial resistance. The requirements for such surfaces mandatory for prevention of hospital acquired infections and the emergence of multi-resistant microorganisms however are high.

Many different chemical strategies and technologies for coatings intended to eradicate microorganisms from surfaces are described in the literature. None of these technologies however meets the expectations for prevention of hospital acquired infections. Formation of self-sanitizing surfaces produced by the in situ generated biocides on the basis of transition metal oxides embedded into surfaces can provide the solution.

Surfaces coated with PretainCoat™ show a broad-band and strong antimicrobial activity resulting in a reduction of the number of colony forming units by 6 – 7 log 10 within 1-3 hours. Their mechanism of action is based on the in-situ generation of H3O+ ions on the surface through the reaction with ambient air inspired by the body’s own defense mechanism imitating e.g. the acid coating of the skin. The resulting acidified surfaces have a pH of 4.5 and the H3O+ ions are able to diffuse through the cell membrane of microorganisms where they can distort the pH-equilibrium and transport systems of the cell.

In addition by these mechanism also free radicals e.g. oxygen radicals and hydroxyl radicals are formed which result in a synergistic mode of action including a positive zeta potential. This is reflected by an extraordinary fast eradication of microorganisms.

Conclusion

The antimicrobial endowment of surfaces is possible by the use of PretainCoat™ and antimicrobial activity is lasting at least 10 years, depending on the abrasion levels. The PretainCoat™ technology does not change the optic and haptic appearance of the surfaces. The PretainCoat™ technology is also highly cost effective.