The Study of the Antimicrobial Properties of Selected Engineering Materials’ Surfaces

Olawale Samuel Fatoba, David Ehigie Esezobor, Olaitan Lukman Akanji, Abiodun Joseph Fatoba, Damilola Macgregor, John Etubor

Deparment of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2014.22012                

Abstract

This paper studies the antimicrobial activity of selected engineering materials surfaces at room and chill temperatures. The antimicrobial effects of selected materials surfaces were evaluated by dropping the test pieces into prepared cultures of Bacillus spp, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aereus isolated from fruits, animal feaces and natural environment respectively. Bacteria count obtained after 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 300 minutes at room temperature and chill condition was taken and compared with their initial count. The amount of live bacteria drops by several orders of magnitude, to zero, on metallic copper and brass within 30 to 300 minutes in both room and chill conditions. In contrast, no reduction is seen in the number of colonies of live bacteria on plastics, ceramic and stainless steel in both room and chill conditions. These results suggest that the selection of metallic copper and brass for touch surfaces in hospitals, surfaces exposed to fruit processing and household utensils can materially assist in reducing bacterial contamination, which should lead to a reduction in the transmission of infectious organisms.

Keywords

Antimicrobial; Material Surfaces; Temperature; Bacteria; Environment

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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