Antimicrobial surface coating as a pathway to curb resistance: preparation, mode of action and future perspective

Antimicrobial resistance has proven to be an existential threat that endangers the health of human beings. The ease of accessing conventional antibiotics, and their unlimited and unregulated use and often misuse is seen to be a contributing factor to the rise in the resistance of microbes toward medications. The overuse of these medications in the agricultural sector also adds to the rising burden of antibiotic resistance. In line with efforts to counter the threat of antimicrobial resistance and the menace of hospital acquired infections developing antimicrobial surface coatings that can eliminate microbes that get deposited on those coatings is essential. This review aims to bring an understanding of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, the preparation and mode of action and the future perspective of the antimicrobial surface coatings.