Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Va., opened a 129-bed wing on Saturday that features copper-infused antimicrobial surfaces.
The new wing is part of a study to see if copper's natural antimicrobial properties can help decrease the development of hospital-associated infections.
While the wing currently has implemented copper-infused surfaces, such as countertops and bed rails, Sentara plans to integrate and test copper-infused textiles in early 2014.
This will be the largest known study to test biologically active antimicrobial surfaces, according to a news release.
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