Antimicrobial Coatings for Medical Shelters(1001-4

U.S. Army’s Deployable Medical System (DEPMEDS) consists of rigid aluminum ISO-standard shelters which house laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, sterilization departments, and operating rooms and soft wall TEMPER units (Tent, Expandable, Modular, Personnel) which house patient wards and auxiliary units. Although operating rooms are routinely cleaned, in the event of a sudden influx of casualties it may not be possible to clean thoroughly between operations. In addition, cleaning of walls of the soft wall shelters or liners may not be feasible. Therefore, antimicrobial coatings on the walls of both rigid and soft wall shelters are desirable to reduce nosocomial transmission of drug resistant bacterial infections. Triton Systems, Inc. proposes to develop antimicrobial coatings for medical shelters using an EPA-approved, non-leaching, non-toxic, non-oxidizing biocide. A successful conclusion of Phase I will demonstrate a greater than 2-log reduction of bacterial population based on the EPA and the JIS Z 2801 tests.