Nanosilver/DCOIT-containing surface coating effectively and constantly reduces microbial load in emergency room surfaces

J Weber; L Henssler; F Zeman; C Pfeifer; V Alt; M Nerlich; M Huber; T Herbst; M Koller; W Schneider-Brachert; M Kerschbaum; T Holzmann

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2023.01.024

Nanosilver/DCOIT-containing surface coating effectively and constantly reduces microbial load in emergency room surfaces

J Hosp Infect. 2023 May:135:90-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.01.024. Epub 2023 Mar 21.

Authors

J Weber¹, L Henssler², F Zeman³, C Pfeifer⁴, V Alt¹, M Nerlich¹, M Huber¹, T Herbst¹, M Koller³, W Schneider-Brachert⁵, M Kerschbaum¹, T Holzmann⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department for Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
² Department for Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: leopold.henssler@ukr.de.
³ Center of Clinical Studies, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
⁴ Department for Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Department of Orthopedic Trauma and Hand Surgery, Innklinikum Altötting-Mühldorf, Altötting, Germany.
⁵ Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

PMID: 36958698
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.01.024

Abstract

Background: Colonization of near-patient surfaces in hospitals plays an important role as a source of healthcare-associated infections. Routine disinfection methods only result in short-term elimination of pathogens.

Aim: To investigate the efficiency of a newly developed antimicrobial coating containing nanosilver in long-term reduction of bacterial burden in hospital surfaces to close the gap between routine disinfection cycles.

Methods: In this prospective, double-blinded trial, frequently touched surfaces of a routinely used treatment room in an emergency unit of a level-I hospital were treated with a surface coating (nanosilver/DCOIT-coated surface, NCS) containing nanosilver particles and another organic biocidal agent (4,5-dichloro-2-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, DCOIT), whereas surfaces of another room were treated with a coating missing both the nanosilver- and DCOIT-containing ingredient and served as control. Bacterial contamination of the surfaces was examined using contact plates and liquid-based swabs daily for a total trial duration of 90 days. After incubation, total microbial counts and species were assessed.

Findings: In a total of 2880 antimicrobial samples, a significant reduction of the overall bacterial load was observed in the NCS room (median: 0.31 cfu/cm²; interquartile range: 0.00-1.13) compared with the control coated surfaces (0.69 cfu/cm²; 0.06-2.00; P < 0.001). The nanosilver- and DCOIT-containing surface coating reduced the relative risk of a critical bacterial load (defined as >5 cfu/cm²) by 60% (odds ratio 0.38, P < 0.001). No significant difference in species distribution was detected between NCS and control group.

Conclusion: Nanosilver-/DCOIT-containing surface coating has shown efficiency for sustainable reduction of bacterial load of frequently touched surfaces in a clinical setting.

Keywords: Antimicrobial surface; Emergency room; Infection prevention; Nanosilver; Nosocomial infections; Surface coating.

Publication types

Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

Anti-Infective Agents*
Bacterial Load
Cross Infection* / microbiology
Disinfection
Double-Blind Method
Humans
Prospective Studies

Substances

Anti-Infective Agents
colloidal silver