Solid antimicrobial fixtures

Appliances and fixtures which many people contact over the course of a day can act as reservoirs for fomites, and help propagate infectious diseases. People try to combat this with handwashing campaigns, disposable knob covers, or spray on antiseptics, each of which requires prolonged and sustained effort and cooperation to be effective (see link and discussion).

I propose that high contact fixtures such as doorknobs be built entirely out of an antimicrobial substance. Many fixtures are very overbuilt for the function they serve - elevator buttons are an example - and could be made of materials which might be less durable than metal. A good candidate for this substance would be an ionic crystal, along the lines of those currently marketed as "deodorant stones". These function by leaving a residue (usually potassium salts) that inhibit the growth of bacteria on the skin. These crystals are quite robust, nontoxic enough to be applied and left on skin, but would provide so harsh a surface that microbes deposited on them would be quickly destroyed. I am sorry I could find no reputable link on how these work - but a search will find no shortage of advertising sites.

The advantage would be that no maintenance would be required to keep the antimicrobial powers working. Plus, the crystalline fixtures would look snappy!