title: Compressed sodium chloride as a fast-acting antimicrobial surface: results of a pilot study.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: bwhitloc@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Whitlock
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012965:Sodium Chloride
keywords: Antimicrobial surface; CSC; Compressed sodium chloride; MRSA; Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus