title: Rapid reduction of Staphylococcus aureus populations on stainless steel surfaces by zeolite ceramic coatings containing silver and zinc ions.
abstract: This study demonstrates the anti-Staphylococcus aureus properties of stainless steel surfaces coated with zeolite containing 2.5% silver and 14% zinc ions. Stainless steel panels with and without the heavy-metal-containing coatings were inoculated with S. aureus and incubated at room temperature. Survival of S. aureus was significantly reduced by the silver/zinc coatings within 1 h. Many hospital surfaces could be constructed of stainless steel with silver/zinc zeolite coatings. Such measures may reduce rates of hospital-acquired S. aureus infection.
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Bright
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Gerba
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rusin
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000592:standards*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000592:standards*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011208:Powders; D012834:Silver / Q000592:standards*; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development*; D017641:Zeolites / Q000592:standards*; D015032:Zinc / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011208:Powders; D013193:Stainless Steel; D017641:Zeolites; D012834:Silver; D015032:Zinc