title: Self-disinfecting surfaces: review of current methodologies and future prospects.
abstract: Methods to improve disinfection of environmental surfaces in hospital rooms include improving cleaning/disinfection by environmental service workers through education and feedback on cleaning effectiveness (eg, use of fluorescent dyes), "no-touch" methods (eg, UV-C light), and self-disinfecting surfaces. Self-disinfecting surfaces can be created by impregnating or coating surfaces with heavy metals (eg, silver or copper), germicides (eg, triclosan), or miscellaneous methods (eg, light-activated antimicrobials). These methods are under active investigation but to date have not been assessed for their ability to reduce health care-associated infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. dweber@unch.unc.edu
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Rutala
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D000985:Antisepsis / Q000379:methods*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004202:Disinfectants; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes