Novel light-activated antimicrobial coatings are effective against surface-deposited Staphylococcus aureus.
Aerosols constitute a major route of transmission for a wide range of infectious diseases in the hospital setting. The aim of this study was to determine the survival of Staphylococcus aureus on a light-activated antimicrobial coating. S. aureus suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), saliva, or horse serum was sprayed onto cellulose acetate coatings containing toluidine blue O and rose bengal and the survival of the organism on these surfaces was determined following 6 h of exposure to a 28-W domestic fluorescent lamp (light intensity = 3700 +/- 20 lux). Kills ranging from 78.9% (in horse serum) to 99.8% (in PBS) were obtained when the bacterial density on the coatings was approximately 10(5) colony-forming units/m(2). The results of this study have shown that a coating containing toluidine blue and rose bengal can achieve significant kills of S. aureus when illuminated by a domestic light source. Light-activated coatings could provide a simple, low-cost means of reducing the microbial load in hospitals and other facilities.
Decraene
Valérie
V
Division of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, UK.
Pratten
Jonathan
J
Wilson
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000528:radiation effects; D012395:Rose Bengal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000528:radiation effects; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D044967:Serum / Q000382:microbiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014048:Tolonium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000528:radiation effects
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D012395:Rose Bengal; C005062:acetylcellulose; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002482:Cellulose