Applications of Antimicrobials in Microorganism-Resistant Products

A different use for antimicrobials is in polymers that are inherently resistant to microorganisms and do not contain susceptible additives, but are frequently used in hygiene-conscious environments like hospitals, bathrooms and kitchens. There has been a rapid increase in the use of antimicrobial additives in the last four years to protect or reassure the user, rather than the product. Typical applications include kitchen surfaces and chopping boards, toothbrushes, rubbish cans, air filters, mattresses, and the ceilings, wallcoverings and floors of canteens and hospitals. Certain medical devices may also have biocidal protection. 

Concern has been expressed about whether microorganisms could become resistant as a result of increased usage of antimicrobials, but it has been pointed out that they are different from antibiotics, because their attack on microorganisms is carried out by multiple mechanisms, and the development of resistance would therefore need more than one mutation. Moreover if the concentration of biocidal agent used in an inanimate material is higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration by a sufficiently large factor, any small decrease in susceptibility would be of little relevance. 

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