New Weapon Against Superbugs

Paper, used for doctors' notes and patient records, is an excellent host and carrier for all types of bacteria including MRSA, serving as a mechanism for cross-contamination between doctors and patients, patients and hospital employees, and between different hospital departments.

Biacticap was developed by Carrs Products (Birmingham, UK), a manufacturer of coated papers. The coating is also effective against other bacteria, including Listeria, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella. Carrs Products plans to extend the treatment to other flexible substrates such as plastics, film, nonwoven materials, and textiles, so that Biacticap would be able to protect most flexible surfaces in the hospital.

"Bacteria can quickly become resistant to antibiotics as a result of mutation, and therefore represent an ongoing healthcare threat,” said Tony Davis, sales and marketing director of Carrs Products. "In contrast, because Biacticap is inorganic, it provides continuous protection against bacteria mutations, which cannot become immune to its antimicrobial action.”