The invention provides a method for inhibiting bacterial attachment to a surface, the method comprising forming the surface from a polymer, or applying a polymer to the surface, wherein the polymer is a homopolymer formed from a (meth) acrylate or (meth) acrylamide monomer or a copolymer formed from one or more (meth) acrylate or (meth) acrylamide monomers, wherein the (meth) acrylate or (meth) acrylamide monomers are of formula (I) or (II): [H2C&boxHCR&prime&mdashC(&boxHO)&mdashO&mdash]nR&emsp&emsp(I) [H2C&boxHCR&prime&mdashC(&boxHO)&mdashNH&mdash]nR&emsp&emsp(II) wherein n is 1, 2 or 3, R&prime is independently H or CH3, R is an organic group having a total of from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, wherein the organic group includes an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon moiety and wherein the organic group does not include any hydroxyl groups.
