What if we put a bit of the stuff found in antiseptic mouthwash on our walls to protect our health?

That may sound like a harebrained scheme or like a bit of quackery found in the dark corners of the internet. A recent British study, however, tested an idea that does just that.

The pharmacy researchers found that adding a common antiseptic to paint containing epoxy resin can transform a surface into a deathtrap for harmful bacteria.

The scientists envision this paint being a boon to hospital infection control. Might an antiseptic paint for home use one day be found on the shelf of your local paint shop?

Experiments indicate the paint completely eradicates E. coli and candida and destroys 99.9% of antibiotic-resistant bacteria generally known as MRSA [MUR-suh].

The researchers say the paint is relatively cheap, although it will probably be a little more expensive than other resin-epoxy paints without antimicrobial properties.

The study found the paint retains the power to kill bacteria for months and does not appear to lose much strength as it ages.

The paint is combined with chlorhexidine digluconate [klor-HEX-ih-deen dye-GLOO-kuh-nate], a widely used antiseptic. It is, for example, a skin prep used before surgery. And as mentioned, it’s in mouthwash, too.

The antiseptic agent remains embedded in the resin and won’t wash off.

Touching a contaminated surface is a common way to pick up an infectious bacterium. MRSA, for example, has been shown to remain on glass and steel surfaces for six weeks. On plastic, it’s 90 days.

Someday, perhaps a doctor will send you to the hardware store instead of the pharmacy to prevent an infection.