Copper Alloys Incorporated Into Clinical Settings May Reduce Presence of Microorganisms

Incorporation of copper alloys into clinical settings may reduce the presence of microbial organisms, according to research published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemology.

For their study, 14 "frequent-touch" items made of copper alloy were installed in various locations at a university hospital. The "frequent-touch" items included door handles, push plates, toilet seats, grab rails, light switches and more. These surfaces were sampled once a week for 24 weeks.

 



Their analysis showed eight of the 14 copper items had significantly lower counts of microbial organisms, such as vancomycin-resistant enterococci and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, than the standard items. The other six copper items had reduced presence of microorganisms but not at a statistically significant level.

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