Lara Maroto-Diaz¹, Patricia Killen¹, Dermot Monaghan¹, Víctor Bellido-Gonzalez¹, Rick Spencer², Jason Eite²,Ameen Belke², Gavin Ackers-Johnson³, Adam P. Roberts³, Danielle Mclaughlan⁴, Amy Doyle⁴, Stacy Todd^4
1Gencoa Ltd, Liverpool, United Kingdom
²Diamond Coatings, Dudley, United Kingdom
³Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
⁴Liverpool University Hospital Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Touch surfaces play a crucial role in the transmission of bacteria and pathogens, especially in hospital and healthcare settings. There are many pathogens which are commonly found in patient wards and public areas throughout hospitals that lead to Hospital Associated Infections (HAI) which can have a devastating effect on the physical, mental, and financial health of a patient. In addition to this, HAIs cost the healthcare system billions of dollars a year in added expenditure. Furthermore, it has been found that a growing number of the pathogens detected have become resistant to the antimicrobial medications typically used to control them.
This work presents novel magnetron sputtered coatings have been developed with very high levels of biocidal efficacy. Sputtered antimicrobial surfaces have been produced in industrial PVD systems, including box coaters and Roll-to-Roll machines. 2D and 3D components were coated, as well as transparent flexible films. The surfaces have been deployed in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the United Kingdom. Flexible films were adhered to patient self-check in kiosks, and push pads and handles were installed throughout busy wards. This paper presents results from standard antimicrobial tests conducted over a 24-hour period, and long term data acquired during the regular monitoring of the surfaces.