Antimicrobial Surfaces and Airborne Pathogens: The New Frontiers in Hospital Safety

The "New Frontiers in Hospital Safety," explores the significant role of antimicrobial surfaces and air purification systems in combating hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The threat of HAIs remains a major concern, and the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria further compounds it. Traditional infection prevention strategies, while effective, need to be enhanced to satisfy the increasing demand that can be done, in particular, by technological advancements such as e.g. antimicrobial surfaces and air purification systems with a promising new frontier in bolstering hospital safety.

This research topic aims to bring together original research, comprehensive reviews, succinct mini-reviews, and perspective articles exploring this vast and dynamic field. We seek contributions that shed light on the mechanisms of antimicrobial surfaces, assess the effectiveness of these surfaces and air purification technologies, examine related policy and regulatory issues, and envision the future of infection control in hospital settings.

Potential themes include but are not limited to, the risk and impact of airborne pathogens, advances in materials for antimicrobial surfaces, integration challenges and economic considerations of implementing these technologies, and the role of policy in promoting their adoption.

This collection will provide a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue among scientists, healthcare professionals, policy makers, and other stakeholders. It is our hope that this research topic will contribute to a deeper understanding of this subject and stimulate further research and innovation in the field, ultimately contributing to safer healthcare environments.

We welcome original research and review articles on themes including, but not limited to:

• Mechanisms of antimicrobial surfaces and their action on different classes of microorganisms
• Advances in materials science in the development of antimicrobial surfaces
• Studies analyzing the effectiveness of antimicrobial surfaces in reducing hospital-acquired infections
• Evaluations of the risk of airborne pathogens in hospital settings and their contribution to disease transmission
• Assessments of current and emerging technologies for controlling airborne pathogens, such as high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), and others
• Exploration of the relationship between hospital ventilation system design and the control of airborne pathogens
• Economic analyses of the costs and benefits associated with the implementation of antimicrobial surfaces and advanced air purification systems
• Investigation of the policy and regulatory issues associated with the integration of antimicrobial surfaces and air purification technologies into healthcare settings
• Perspectives on best practices for combining antimicrobial surfaces and airborne pathogen controls with existing infection prevention strategies
• Future-oriented articles anticipating upcoming challenges and opportunities in the field, including emerging superbugs, future pandemics, and evolving concepts in hospital design
• Reviews on the psychological impact of implementing such technologies on both healthcare workers and patients

These themes provide a broad scope for potential contributors to this special issue to explore various facets of antimicrobial surfaces and airborne pathogen control in hospitals. We encourage both experimental and theoretical studies, as well as interdisciplinary work that bridges the gaps between materials science, microbiology, medicine, public health, policy, and economics