New paint could kill infectious bacteria in hospitals

A new microbicidal paint that could kill about 99.9 per cent of infection-causing bacteria such as MRSA and E coli after two hours of exposure on painted surfaces in hospitals has been developed.
Surfaces painted with Paint Shield kill greater than 99.9 per cent of Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), Escherichia coli (E coli), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) and Enterobacter aerogenes after two hours of exposure, its manufactures claim.
"Paint Shield is one of the most significant technological breakthroughs in our nearly 150 year history of innovation," said Chris Connor, chairman and chief executive of Sherwin-Williams, a US-based paint and coating manufacturing company that developed Paint Shield.

"By killing infectious pathogens on painted surfaces, Paint Shield is a game-changing advancement in coatings technology," said Conor.
Paint Shield does not just inhibit the growth of common microbes, it can also kill infectious bacteria, thereby giving healthcare systems and other facilities an important new tool to help prevent the spread of some of the most common bacteria that trigger hospital-acquired infections (HAI).
Once it is applied, the effectiveness of Paint Shield lasts for up to four years, as long as the integrity of the surface is maintained, the company said in a statement.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, healthcare-associated infections are one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the US.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that approximately one in 25 US patients contract at least one infection during the course of their hospital care, the company said.