Described herein are antimicrobial articles having improved antimicrobial efficacy and antireflective properties. Further described are methods of making and using the improved articles. The antimicrobial articles generally include an antimicrobial element and an antireflective element. The antireflective element, in some cases, can be disposed directly on a glass, glass-ceramic or ceramic substrate and the antimicrobial element is disposed on the antireflective element. The article can exhibit a reflectance of about 4% or less (and less than 1% in some cases) in the range of about 425 nm to about 725 nm. Further, the article can be characterized with an antimicrobial efficacy by exhibiting at least a 2 log reduction in a concentration of at least Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria under a Modified EPA Copper Test Protocol.
