Compressed sodium chloride as a fast-acting antimicrobial surface: results of a pilot study

B D Whitlock; S W Smith

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2016.04.013

Compressed sodium chloride as a fast-acting antimicrobial surface: results of a pilot study

J Hosp Infect. 2016 Oct;94(2):182-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.04.013. Epub 2016 May 6.

Authors

B D Whitlock¹, S W Smith²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Canada.

PMID: 27255392
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.04.013

Abstract

Antimicrobial surfaces are currently being studied as an aid to reduce transmission of pathogens leading to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Among the most harmful and costly pathogens that cause HAIs is meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Currently available and previously investigated antimicrobial surface technologies that are effective against MRSA (e.g. copper alloy surfaces) take 30min to several hours to achieve significant reduction. This article presents a new antimicrobial surface technology made of compressed sodium chloride that reduces MRSA 20-30 times faster than copper alloy surfaces.

Keywords: Antimicrobial surface; CSC; Compressed sodium chloride; MRSA; Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

MeSH terms

Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
Colony Count, Microbial
Humans
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / physiology
Microbial Viability / drug effects*
Pilot Projects
Sodium Chloride / pharmacology*
Surface Properties*

Substances

Anti-Infective Agents
Sodium Chloride