title: Proactive Approach for Safe Use of Antimicrobial Coatings in Healthcare Settings: Opinion of the COST Action Network AMiCI.
abstract: Infections and infectious diseases are considered a major challenge to human health in healthcare units worldwide. This opinion paper was initiated by EU COST Action network AMiCI (AntiMicrobial Coating Innovations) and focuses on scientific information essential for weighing the risks and benefits of antimicrobial surfaces in healthcare settings. Particular attention is drawn on nanomaterial-based antimicrobial surfaces in frequently-touched areas in healthcare settings and the potential of these nano-enabled coatings to induce (eco)toxicological hazard and antimicrobial resistance. Possibilities to minimize those risks e.g., at the level of safe-by-design are demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technology, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 211, FI-26101 Rauma, Finland. merja.ahonen@samk.fi.
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahonen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, Tallinn 12618, Estonia. anne.kahru@kbfi.ee.|Estonian Academy of Sciences, Kohtu 6, Tallinn 10130, Estonia. anne.kahru@kbfi.ee.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahru
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, Tallinn 12618, Estonia. angela.ivask@kbfi.ee.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivask
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, Tallinn 12618, Estonia. kaja.kasemets@kbfi.ee.
authors.forename: Kaja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kasemets
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, Tartu 50411, Estonia. siiri.koljalg@kliinikum.ee.
authors.forename: Siiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kõljalg
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Research Centre POLARIS, University of Milano-Bicocca, 1 Piazza della Scienza, 20126 Milan, Italy. paride.mantecca@unimib.it.
authors.forename: Paride
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mantecca
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, Zagreb 10000, Croatia. ivinkovic@imi.hr.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vinković Vrček
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technology, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 211, FI-26101 Rauma, Finland. minna.keinanen-toivola@samk.fi.
authors.forename: Minna M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Keinänen-Toivola
authors.affiliation: Department Bèta Sciences and Technology, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 550, 6400 AN Heerlen, The Netherlands. francy.crijns@zuyd.nl.
authors.forename: Francy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crijns
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050456:Fomites / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D049329:Nanostructures; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012449:Safety
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: antimicrobial resistance; copper; ecotoxicity; healthcare associated infections; nanomaterials; risk-benefit analysis; safety; silver