Bacteria-killing paint can be a passive weapon against hospital-acquired infections with claims similar to that made by copper, which has become known for its ability to kill bacteria, according to an article on the FacilityCare website.

Sherwin-Williams' Paint Shield’s claim that it “kills infectious bacteria” as opposed to containing a biocide that protects the paint against fungal degradation, which is not new.

Microbicidal paint reportedly kills five organisms — staph (Staphylococcus aureus), MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), E. coli (Escherichia coli), VRE (vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis) and Enterobacter aerogenes — after two hours of exposure.

While antimicrobial copper is generally used for door and furniture hardware, bed rails, sinks, work stations, the paint can be applied on interior hard, nonporous ceilings, walls, doors and trim.

“In a pediatric area, the walls within a child’s reach would likely receive a lot of hands-on touching. Other areas of the hospital typically would not,” said Todd Wilkening, CEO and principal of FMadvantage LLC. “Areas such as sinks, doors, door frames, buttons, controls, countertops, etc., are intended for touch and should be treated to a high level of disinfection.”

Read the article.