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The spread of infections in health care environments is a persistent and growing problem in most countries, aggravated by the development of microbial resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants. In addition to indwelling medical devices (implants, catheters, etc.), such infections may also result from adhesion of microbes either to external solid-water interfaces such as shower caps, taps, drains, etc, or to external solid-gas interfaces such as door handles, clothes, curtains, computer keyboards, etc. The latter are the main focus of the present work, where an overview of antimicrobial coatings for such applications is presented. The paper addresses well-established and novel methodologies, including chemical and physical functional modification of surfaces to reduce microbial contamination, as well as the potential risks associated to the implementation of such anti-contamination measures. Different chemistry-based approaches are discussed, in particular anti-adhesive surfaces (e.g., superhydrophobic, zwitterions, etc.) contact-killing surfaces (e.g., polymer brushes, phages, etc.) and biocide-releasing surfaces (e.g., triggered release, quorum sensing-based systems, etc.). The paper also assesses the impact of topographical modifications at distinct dimensions (micrometre and nanometre orders of magnitude) and the importance of applying safe-by-design criteria (toxicity, contribution for unwanted acquisition of antimicrobial resistance, long-term stability, etc.) when developing and implementing antimicrobial surfaces.

The spread of infections in health care environments is a persistent and growing problem in most countries, aggravated by the development of microbial resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants. In addition to indwelling medical devices (implants, catheters, etc.), such infections may also result from adhesion of microbes either to external solid-water interfaces such as shower caps, taps, drains, etc, or to external solid-gas interfaces such as door handles, clothes, curtains, computer keyboards, etc. The latter are the main focus of the present work, where an overview of antimicrobial coatings for such applications is presented. The paper addresses well-established and novel methodologies, including chemical and physical functional modification of surfaces to reduce microbial contamination, as well as the potential risks associated to the implementation of such anti-contamination measures. Different chemistry-based approaches are discussed, in particular anti-adhesive surfaces (e.g., superhydrophobic, zwitterions, etc.) contact-killing surfaces (e.g., polymer brushes, phages, etc.) and biocide-releasing surfaces (e.g., triggered release, quorum sensing-based systems, etc.). The paper also assesses the impact of topographical modifications at distinct dimensions (micrometre and nanometre orders of magnitude) and the importance of applying safe-by-design criteria (toxicity, contribution for unwanted acquisition of antimicrobial resistance, long-term stability, etc.) when developing and implementing antimicrobial surfaces.

La presente investigación indaga sobre la formación que dicen los docentes universitarios poseer en cuanto al uso y dominio de las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación (TIC) para el apoyo de sus actividades académicas en el entorno educativo. Específicamente se abordó el tema, importancia de la formación de los docentes en instituciones públicas y privadas. La investigación es de tipo no experimental, descriptiva y de campo. Los resultados reflejan, en relación a la formación en TIC que dicen los docentes poseer para el uso y dominio en apoyo a las actividades académicas, es muy deficiente y en algunos casos nula., The present research investigate about the education that the university professor say have of the use and domain of ICT to support the academic activities in educational environments. Specifically we discuss the theme about the importance of the professor's education in public and private universities. The research is non experimental, descriptive and field type. The result show, in relation to the education in ICT that the professors said to have for the use and domain to support the academic activities was very low, and null in some cases.

La presente investigación indaga sobre la formación que dicen los docentes universitarios poseer en cuanto al uso y dominio de las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación (TIC) para el apoyo de sus actividades académicas en el entorno educativo. Específicamente se abordó el tema, importancia de la formación de los docentes en instituciones públicas y privadas. La investigación es de tipo no experimental, descriptiva y de campo. Los resultados reflejan, en relación a la formación en TIC que dicen los docentes poseer para el uso y dominio en apoyo a las actividades académicas, es muy deficiente y en algunos casos nula., The present research investigate about the education that the university professor say have of the use and domain of ICT to support the academic activities in educational environments. Specifically we discuss the theme about the importance of the professor's education in public and private universities. The research is non experimental, descriptive and field type. The result show, in relation to the education in ICT that the professors said to have for the use and domain to support the academic activities was very low, and null in some cases.