University footage shows bug-killing effects of silver-treated surfaces

Experts at the University of Warwick have produced microscopic footage of the potentially deadly E. coli bacteria being wiped out in just two hours on an antimicrobial treated ‘intelligent’ surface.

Dr. Antonia Sagona created revealing time-lapse imaging featuring fluorescently labelled bacteria, to bring to life the effects of silver-treated surfaces compared with a non-protected surface.

The data was obtained at optimal bacterial growth temperature and the footage on the left showed that bacteria thrive on an untreated surface. The footage also showed that on a BioCote-treated surface they die quickly.

Nasty microbes cannot survive on BioCote treated surfaces, which the company says is scientifically proven to destroy up to 99.99% of harmful bacteria. This includes superbugs like the flesh eating MRSA that can result from surgical wound complications, Campylobacter which is potentially fatal and the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK, plus Salmonella which can cause severe, sometimes deadly, infections like septicaemia and pneumonia.

Neither can invasive fungi or viruses such as H1N1 influenza and derivatives like the virulent Aussie strain.

These ‘invisible’ silver ion additives are simply integrated into everyday products at the time of manufacture.