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The recent COVID‐19 pandemic and the accelerating rise of deaths associated with antibiotic‐resistant bacterial strains have highlighted the global health and economic threats caused by the super spreading of pathogens. A major route of transmission for pathogens is via surfaces contaminated by touch or droplets generated via sneezing and coughing. Current surface disinfection strategies are having diminishing efficacy, due to the increasing number of superbugs and the short‐lasting effect of disinfectants resulting in recontamination. New strategies for inhibiting surface‐mediated pathogen transmission are the focus of significant multi‐disciplinary efforts. Among those, the development of superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) is increasingly regarded as a powerful alternative, or additive, to antimicrobial strategies. SHS provide a neutral/inert interface that can prevent viral and bacterial surface colonization. Here, the use of such water‐repellent coatings are critically reviewed to impede the surface‐mediated transmission of pathogens, addressing the challenges and future directions for their translation into real‐world settings.

The spread of viral and bacterial pathogens mediated by contact with surfaces is a leading cause of infection worldwide. COVID‐19 and the continuous rise of deaths associated with antibiotic‐resistant bacteria highlight the need to impede surface‐mediated transmission. A sprayable coating with an intrinsic ability to resist the uptake of bacteria and viruses from surfaces and droplets, such as those generated by sneezing or coughing, is reported. The coating also provides an effective microbicidal functionality against bacteria, providing a dual barrier against pathogen uptake and transmission. This antimicrobial functionality is fully preserved following scratching and other induced damage to its surface or 9 days of submersion in a highly concentrated suspension of bacteria. The coatings also register an 11‐fold decrease in viral contamination compared to the noncoated surfaces.

Multiscale Coatings In article number 2201415 , Antonio Tricoli, David R. Nisbet, and co‐workers provide visual in situ evidence of the ability of water repellent coatings to protect surfaces from virus and bacteria contamination. They further reveal possible failure mechanisms of these coatings amid prolonged immersion in a liquid or due to physical damage, and use these insights to engineer an advanced multifunctional coating with superior antimicrobial protection and preserved anti‐viral shielding capability.

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The spread of viral and bacterial pathogens mediated by contact with surfaces is a leading cause of infection worldwide. COVID-19 as well as the continuous rise of deaths associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria highlights the need to impede surface-mediated transmission. We report a sprayable coating with an intrinsic ability to resist the uptake of bacteria and viruses from surfaces and droplets, such as those generated by sneezing or coughing. Our coating also provides an effective microbicidal functionality against bacteria, providing a dual barrier against pathogen uptake and transmission. This antimicrobial functionality is fully preserved following scratching and other induced damage to its surface or 9 days of submersion in a highly concentrated suspension of bacteria.