ex n a

bacteria from the host defence mechanism and antibiotics. Literature indicates that 500–5000 times higher levels of antibiotics are needed to achieve the same antimicrobial increasing the negative charge and consequently the repulsive force [10,11]. Recently, we demonstrated that it was possible to detach ARTICLE IN PRESSmore than 60–76 % of staphylococci adhering to surgical stainless steel surfaces through the application of small electric currents (100 mA or less), while also staphylococc