Abstract
Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria are a major public health problem. Their transmission is strongly linked to cross contamination via inert surfaces, which can serve as reservoirs for pathogenic microorganisms. To address this problem, antibacterial materials applied to high-touch surfaces have been developed. However, reaching a rapid and lasting effectiveness under real life conditions of use remains challenging. In the present paper, hard-anodized aluminum (AA) materials impregnated with antibacterial agents (quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and/or nitrate silver (AgNO3)) were prepared and characterized. The thickness of the anodized layer was about 50 μm with pore diameter of 70 nm. AA with QACs and/or AgNO3 had a water contact angle varying between 45 and 70°. The antibacterial activity of the materials was determined under different experimental settings to better mimic their use, and included liquid, humid, and dry conditions. AA–QAC surfaces demonstrated excellent efficiency, killing >99.9% of bacteria in 5 min on a wide range of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridioides difficile, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium) and Gram-negative (streptomycin-resistant Salmonella typhimurium and encapsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae) pathogens. AA–QACs showed a faster antibacterial activity (from 0.25 to 5 min) compared with antibacterial copper used as a reference (from 15 min to more than 1 h). We show that to maintain their high performance, AA–QACs should be used in low humidity environments and should be cleaned with solutions composed of QACs. Altogether, AA–QAC materials constitute promising candidates to prevent the transmission of pathogenic bacteria on high-touch surfaces.
Highlights
IntroductionBacterial nosocomial infections represent an extremely serious global threat to human health.[1,2,3] Drug-resistant infections are currently responsible for 700 000 deaths per year worldwide and if the current situation does not improve, this human toll might reach 10 million deaths per year by 2050.3 The direct (healthcare) and indirect (international trade, animal production)The transmission of bacterial pathogens that cause infections is mainly linked to cross-contamination through inert surfaces and the environment.[1,6,7,8] An interesting way to limit the spread of pathogenic bacteria, without the use of antibiotics, is to develop antibacterial materials for use in high contact areas, such as door handles, stair railings, components of public transport and other surfaces that can serve as reservoirs for microorganisms.[8,9,10]Several strategies can be used to design antibacterial materials
We report antibacterial activity testing of anodized aluminum-based surfaces that aim to limit the spread of pathogenic bacteria.[36]
Since wettability of surfaces can in uence the rst stage of pathogen adhesion on materials,[46,47] static contact angle measurements were carried out using a goniometer to assess the surface wettability of Al, anodized aluminum (AA), AA–AgNO3, AA–Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), AA–AgNO3–QACs and copper
Summary
Bacterial nosocomial infections represent an extremely serious global threat to human health.[1,2,3] Drug-resistant infections are currently responsible for 700 000 deaths per year worldwide and if the current situation does not improve, this human toll might reach 10 million deaths per year by 2050.3 The direct (healthcare) and indirect (international trade, animal production)The transmission of bacterial pathogens that cause infections is mainly linked to cross-contamination through inert surfaces and the environment.[1,6,7,8] An interesting way to limit the spread of pathogenic bacteria, without the use of antibiotics, is to develop antibacterial materials for use in high contact areas, such as door handles, stair railings, components of public transport and other surfaces that can serve as reservoirs for microorganisms.[8,9,10]Several strategies can be used to design antibacterial materials. One of them is to select a type of material with inherent antibacterial activity such as metal alloys, mainly based on copper, silver, or zinc.[10,11,12,13] Copper-based alloys are currently the most used with over 500 materials registered as antibacterial products by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They are capable of killing 99.9% of pathogenic bacteria within 2 h.14–16. They are capable of killing 99.9% of pathogenic bacteria within 2 h.14–16 38172 | RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 38172–38188
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