As we enter World AMR Awareness Week for 2024, there is an increasing recognition that we are coming towards the end of antibiotics in some settings. Prevention is undoubtedly better than cure. Developing whole new classes of antimicrobial agents is unlikely to dig us out of the AMR mire, but getting better at preventing them is a hugely important part of our response to the AMR threat. Into this context lands today’s study – a randomised intervention study on the impact of introducing an antimicrobial surface coating in an Emergency Department setting. The results were positive, with the antimicrobial surface coating associated with lower levels of microbial contamination. Does this prompt a rethink of our approach to surface disinfection? A reminder that this paper will be the subject of tomorrow’s Journal Club (register here).