Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are all too common in today's hospital environment. More than 1.7 million cases of transmission occur annually and often the implicated infectious organisms are transferred from inanimate objects capable of sustaining their viability. The disinfection methods that are used routinely in hospitals today are imperfect and the only available and accepted methods for minimizing patient- to-patient transmission include: 1. improved cleaning and disinfection of room surfaces, 2. implementation of 'no touch' methods for terminal room disinfection, e.g., ultraviolet light or hydrogen peroxide vapor, and 3. use of 'self-disinfecting' surfaces to reduce the bioburden on hospital surfaces. Current 'self-disinfecting' clinical surfaces with the antibacterial label are limited to painted surfaces incorporating quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs, Sherwin Williams Paint Shield®) and more recently a PPG paint (Copper Armor®) comprising ceramic encapsulated copper oxide Guardiant®, Corning). In the proposed effort, a novel organometallic copper additive is scaled and its manufacturing validated and liquid and powder paint formulations created, validated, and tested for effectiveness against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These data will be used to support an EPA filing for products incorporating the novel additive. The major elements of the specific aims of the proposed research involves: 1. The scaling and manufacturing (synthesis) validation and characterization of ion exchange biocides, 2. Subsequent formulation into two distinct coating forms, and 3. The evaluation of the time-dependent biological performance of the modified composites under ISO 17025 and GLPs so as to support an application to the EPA.
Public Health Relevance Statement: Narrative In the United States, approximately 1.7 million health care-associated infections (HAIs) occur in hospitals annually. Many of the implicated organisms are transmitted to the patient by a health care worker via an intermediary in the hospital environment, i.e., a fomite. Fomites are nonliving objects, substances, and surfaces capable of carrying infectious organisms. With costs to treat these infections requiring more than billions of dollars annually, improved methods of preventing HAIs are needed. The proposed project addresses this complex problem with the development and testing of two first-in-class solutions that will address bacterial, fungal and viral threats within the clinical and other environments. Terms:
