AgION reduced microbial colony-forming units when compared to uncoated steel surfaces under all conditions tested. Percent reductions ranged from 84.536 to 99.999 after 4 h exposure, and from 99.992 to 100 after 24 h in all cases.
Self-disinfecting surfaces can be created by impregnating or coating surfaces with heavy metals (eg, silver or copper), germicides (eg, triclosan), or miscellaneous methods (eg, light-activated antimicrobials).
The antimicrobial effects of silver (Ag) have been recognized for thousands of years. In ancient times, it was used in water containers (Grier 1983) and to prevent putrefaction of liquids and foods. In ancient times in Mexico, water and milk were kept in silver containers (Davis and Etris 1997). Silver was also mentioned in the Roman pharmacopoeia of 69 b.c. (Davis and Etris 1997).
A silver- and zinc-containing zeolite matrix (AgION) used as a coating for stainless steel was tested for antimicrobial efficacy against Escherichia coli 25922, Staphylococcus aureus 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27853, and Listeria monocytogenes 7644. Assays were performed on flat coupon surfaces and in formed steel cups. AgION reduced microbial colony-forming units when compared to uncoated steel surfaces under all conditions tested. Percent reductions ranged from 84.536 to 99.999 after 4 h exposure, and from 99.992 to 100 after 24 h in all cases.
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