Antimicrobial surfaces: to clean or not to clean?

In recent months there has been a growing discussion about the use of antimicrobial treatments on surfaces designed to supplement conventional cleaning and disinfection practices. An article in a Newspaper in South Western Ontario even went as far as to suggest that the manufactures treatment would make it unnecessary to disinfect surfaces on their products.

What are the issues with this ?

Will Antimicrobial Surfaces still have to be cleaned to remove gross soils?

It is a long and well accepted fact that gross soils form a barrier that protect microbes from the killing effects of antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial Surfaces will in our opinion still have to
be cleaned for the surface treatment to provide its best possible antimicrobial effect in everyday use.

Does Health Canada review and approve performance claims of Antimicrobial Surface treatments in the same way as hard surface disinfectants?

Antimicrobial Surface treatments are not regulated by HealthCanada in the same way as disinfectant drugs are regulated toconfirm performance claims and acceptability for sale and use
in Canada. It may be difficult for purchasers to identify…