An antimicrobial article having a substrate, and a coating on a surface of the substrate. The coating includes a silver-containing alkali silicate. The antimicrobial article has an antimicrobial efficacy of greater than or equal to about 90.0% according to EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy Surfaces as a Sanitizer. The coating may further include at least one of a boron-containing compound and an aluminum-containing compound. A method for forming antimicrobial articles includes coating a substrate with a mixture comprising an alkali silicate; curing the coating at a temperature from greater than or equal to about 300° C. to less than or equal to about 620° C. for a duration of greater than or equal to about 15 minutes to less than or equal to about 120 minutes; and contacting the coating with an antimicrobial medium comprising silver nitrate and an alkali nitrate.