infection control – special report
Copper also remains effective even
after repeated wet and dry abrasion and recontamination and these properties last the lifetime of the product. There is a lack of evidence of long-term efficacy of other materials under real-life conditions. These benefits, and low maintenance
needs, are making copper products much more widely specified within contemporary hospital architecture and design. Speaking to hdm, Angela Vessey,
director of the Copper Development Association, explains: “There is a solid and growing evidence base that really confirms that copper and copper alloy touch surfaces are a useful extra measure to boost infection control. “They are effective against bacteria –
even antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA and VRE – fungi, and none has been to survive on a copper or copper alloy surface.”
One of the leading copper research
centres in the work is the University of Southampton and it boldly broadcast a live laboratory trial conducted by Professor Bill Keevil in which antimicrobial copper was shown to eradicate 10,000,000 MRSA bacteria in just eight minutes. An academic paper based on this
research and published in the Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology concluded: “This study is the first to show very-rapid killing of fingertip contamination of MRSA and MSSA on copper alloys, and the authors propose that incorporation of copper alloy surfaces may help to reduce the transmission of MRSA and MSSA from contaminated surfaces.”
The path of destruction Clinical studies in the UK and the US were the first to confirm the laboratory efficacy, reporting >80% reduction of bacteria on copper surfaces. In a US ICU trial in three hospitals, an
associated 58% reduction in infections was reported. This evidence base continues to expand, with further studies conducted in different healthcare systems, clinical areas, touch surface components, and local strains of bacteria, each helping to further prove the efficacy of copper for long-term, wide-spectrum infection prevention and control. In particular, the research has provided
evidence to support the specification of copper for key touch surfaces within hospitals, including bed rails, drip stands, keyboards, taps, handrails, door handles, and push plates. Vessey said: “The way in which
copper works totally destroys the DNA of the bacteria, so there is no chance of
horizontal gene transfer, the way in which bacteria can share resistance. As such, its use is becoming increasingly significant in the drive to tackle antimicrobial resistance.” Specification of antimicrobial copper is
currently still a local decision, often led by an enlightened champion. The expanding evidence base should start to be reflected in more-official guidance recognising the use of copper as key to infection prevention in hospitals. In fact, Health Protection Scotland
recently reviewed evidence from 18 articles covering 14 scientific studies and made a ‘Recommendation for Clinical Practice’ stating: “Copper alloy environmental and equipment surfaces may be considered for high-touch sites (eg bed rails) as an additional measure to supplement existing procedures for routine cleaning, but does not replace the requirement for routine cleaning to be performed.” Vessey is hoping other countries in
the UK will now follow suit. “It’s about prioritising the touch
points that are most highly contaminated and frequently touched and in the areas where the most vulnerable patients are housed, for
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