ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

New research published in the American Journal of Infection Control reports antimicrobial copper touch surfaces installed in hospital patient rooms significantly reduced concentrations of bacteria, sustaining levels prescribed on completion of terminal cleaning.

Grinnell College’s associate professor of biology Shannon Hinsa-Leasure PhD, and her team conducted research over 18 months at Grinnell College and Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC) in Iowa, with more than 1,500 samples. The study found significantly fewer bacteria on copper alloy products—such as grab bars, toilet flushes, IV poles, switches, keyboards, sinks and dispensers—than on traditional, non-copper hospital room surfaces.

The study was designed to build on existing research demonstrating the efficacy of antimicrobial copper touch surfaces in boosting infection control in intensive care units, where infections were reduced by 58 per cent.

The new study notes more than half of all healthcare-associated infections in the US are acquired outside ICUs. Here, 20 frequently-touched surfaces — in medical and surgical suite patient rooms, en-suite bathrooms and areas external to patient rooms — were replaced with antimicrobial
copper equivalents. Both occupied and unoccupied rooms were studied to determine background bacterial concentrations.

With weekly sampling over the course of 12 months, 88 per cent of the samples collected from copper components in occupied areas were below the recommended terminal clean level. During the same period 55 per cent of control surfaces had burdens above this threshold.

More surprisingly, in unoccupied rooms (given a terminal clean after the patient vacated), 51 per cent of control samples were above the threshold. The observation that microbial populations are re-established on hospital surfaces subsequent to cleaning supported observations made in previous research. Ninety-three per cent of the copper samples from unoccupied rooms were below the threshold.

Following these findings, GRMC president and ceo Todd Linden said the medical centre is now installing bacteria-killing surfaces throughout the facility. Currently only half of the patient rooms are fitted with copper hardware and components.

www.antimicrobialcopper.org