Study of the adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus to coated glass substrates

The adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus was studied using a selection of laboratory-prepared and commercially available coated glass substrates using a simple methodology. Substrates were examined by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and water droplet contact angles. It was found that microbial adhesion was independent of surface roughness, when this was of a lower magnitude than microbial size. It was also found that microbial adhesion was greater for hydrophilic surfaces than for hydrophobic ones, but that on a photoinduced superhydrophilic surface, microbes were more spread out—a potential benefit for more effective photocatalytic disinfection. It is suggested that hydrophobic and photoinduced superhydrophilic surface coatings both have potential as a means of reducing microbial fouling of surfaces.