Help in the fight against superbugs could arrive in the form of a self-cleaning

surface that can repel all forms of bacteria making it an essential weapon for

hospitals trying to prevent the transfer of superbugs such as C. difficile and MRSA.

The new structurally-tuned plastic surface can be shrink-wrapped on germ-traps like door handles, railings or IV stands in hospitals – just like conventional transparent wrap – but in its treated form it repels the bacteria.

According to a study published in the journal ACS Nano, it could also be ideal for food packaging, where it could stop the transfer of bacteria such as E. coli, listeria or salmonella.

Through a combination of chemistry and nano-scale surface engineering, the new surface excludes all external molecules as it is textured with microscopic wrinkles. This means that drops of water, blood or bacteria just bounce off when they land on the surface.

We’ll need to be handy with a mop then.