HEALTH & SAFETY
preventing infection. In our trust, led by
our senior nurse, we have what I would
say is some of the highest quality infection
prevention measures in terms of washing
of hands, cleaning surfaces and
managing the environment.”
So copper, brass and bronze surfaces
can augment standard hygiene practices
such as hand washing and cleaning and
provide an additional barrier to germs,
between cleans. The infection control team
can identify which surfaces would benefit
from copper in particular areas. In the
Selly Oak trial, door handles, push plates,
grab rails, taps, light switches and sockets
and toilet seats were just some of the
copper components installed. Hospitals do
not need to instigate special cleaning
ANTIMICROBIAL COPPER
opper alloys, such as brass Copper has also been proven to routines to care for the surfaces, either. At
C
and bronze, are making a reduce contamination in a clinical setting, Selly Oak, standard cleaning agents and
comeback in hospitals due with reductions of 90-100% reported on protocols are used.
to their inherent ability to kill toilet seats, taps and push plates in the News of copper’s outstanding
germs – bacteria, viruses ongoing clinical trial at Selly Oak hospital antimicrobial performance in the trial is
and fungi – around the clock. Often found in Birmingham. 80% of infectious diseases making infection control teams around the
in private hospitals to provide a homely or are spread by touch so, logically, reducing world consider where best to deploy
hotel feel, this new generation of handles, contamination on touch surfaces must copper, brass and bronze fittings, furniture
and other touch surface components, are mean reducing the risk of spreading and equipment, and architects are already
uncoated – neither lacquered nor chrome disease. According to the trial leader, Prof starting to specify copper in environments
plated – unleashing the power of the Tom Elliott: “The findings of a 90 to 100% where hygiene is of paramount
antimicrobial copper within. killing of those organisms, even after a importance.
In ancient times, copper was found busy day on a medical ward with items Copper-containing materials come in
useful for its curative powers — largely being touched by numerous people, is a variety of guises ranging in colour from
due to its antibacterial and antifungal remarkable. It may well offer us another gold to bronze to silver depending on
properties — in the treatment of wounds mechanism for trying to defeat the spread composition. Being active surfaces, they
and skin diseases. The ancient Egyptians, of infection.” immediately set to work killing germs, and
Greeks, Romans and Aztecs all used Copper and its alloys are easy to form the surface appearance may dull or
copper in the treatment of wounds and into long-lasting equipment and fittings darken slightly, a process known as
diseases. suitable for service in the healthcare patination. Only poorly cleaned surfaces
There are now reams of scientific environment. They are homogenous, so a will discolour to a greater degree than
papers documenting how copper surfaces product such as a brass door handle is this, and the bathroom fittings installed at
(and materials such as brass and bronze, antimicrobial through and through, even Selly Oak show only a gentle patination,
which contain copper,) can very quickly kill when scratched; the properties last the even after two years’ service. Rest assured
millions of microbes applied to them. The lifetime of the product. Whole-life product though that as this patination occurs, the
most recent work has been carried out at costs are comparable with other materials surface is becoming even more effective at
the University of Southampton by Prof Bill and, at the end of their service life, killing germs.
Keevil, who has proved copper kills MRSA, products are fully recyclable and therefore Products are now available from a
Clostridium difficile, E. coli and even contribute to sustainable design. Recycled variety of manufacturers, at prices
Influenza A (H1N1). Interestingly, whilst it copper can be used for exactly the same comparable to the same stainless steel
is widely accepted that both silver and applications as the newly-mined material, components. A product catalogue is being
copper have antimicrobial properties, and it does not need to be downgraded, unlike developed to make sourcing items easy
indeed the use of silver in catheters and recycled paper, and in Europe, 42% of the for facilities managers and architects, and
wound dressings is well known, Keevil copper demand is already satisfied by can be viewed at
recently reported that under typical indoor recycled material. www.copperinfo.co.uk/antimicrobial/
conditions, i.e. 22°C and 50% relative Whilst copper is established as a products.
humidity, silver-ion containing materials ‘green’ material, Professor Elliott is also For more information, or to join the
showed no activity. A higher temperature calling it ‘an intelligent metal’: “The Interest Group to receive quarterly updates
and humidity was needed for the silver copper is quietly working away in the on developments and research from the
material to show an effect. So, for indoor background, killing organisms all the UK, US, Japan, Africa and Germany,
touch surface applications, copper time. It needs to be part of what we call a please visit
materials have the required performance. bundle of care in terms of an approach to www.copperinfo.co.uk/antimicrobial.
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SUSTAINABLE FM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
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