Aspects include methods of fabricating antibacterial surfaces for medical implant devices including patterning a photoresist layer on a silicon substrate and etching the silicon to generate a plurality of nanopillars. Aspects also include removing the photoresist layer from the structure and coating the plurality of nanopillars with a biocompatible film. Aspects also include a system for preventing bacterial infection associated with medical implants including a thin silicon film including a plurality of nanopillars.