Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-h6jzd Total loading time: 0.001 Render date: 2025-02-15T01:13:56.676Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Copper Continuously Limits the Concentration of Bacteria Resident on Bed Rails within the Intensive Care Unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Michael G. Schmidt ,
Hubert H. Attaway III ,
Sarah E. Fairey ,
Lisa L. Steed ,
Harold T. Michels  and
Cassandra D. Salgado
Michael G. Schmidt*
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Hubert H. Attaway III
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Sarah E. Fairey
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Lisa L. Steed
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Harold T. Michels
Affiliation:
Copper Development Association, New York, New York
Cassandra D. Salgado
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
*
Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 173 Ashley Avenue, BSB 319G, Charleston, SC 29425 (schmidtm@musc.edu)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Cleaning is an effective way to lower the bacterial burden (BB) on surfaces and minimize the infection risk to patients. However, BB can quickly return. Copper, when used to surface hospital bed rails, was found to consistently limit surface BB before and after cleaning through its continuous antimicrobial activity.

Type
Concise Communication
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 34 , Issue 5: Special Topic Issue: The Role of the Environment in Infection Prevention , May 2013 , pp. 530 - 533
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Rutala, WA, Weber, DJ; Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities, 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/ hicpac/pdf/Disinfection_Sterilization/Pagesl_2Disinfection_Nov_2008.pdf.Google Scholar
2.Boyce, JM. Environmental contamination makes an important contribution to hospital infection. J Hosp Infect. 2007;65(suppl 2):50–54.Google Scholar
3.Mulvey, D, Redding, P, Robertson, C, et al.Finding a benchmark for monitoring hospital cleanliness. J Hosp Infect 2011;77(1):25–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA registers copper-containing alloy products. http://www.epa.gov/oppOOOOl/factsheets/copper-alloy-products.htm. 2008.Google Scholar
5.Casey, AL, Adams, D, Karpanen, TJ, et al.Role of copper in reducing hospital environment contamination. J Hosp Infect 2010;74(1):72–77.Google Scholar
6.Schmidt, MG, Attaway, HH, Sharpe, PA, et al.Sustained reduction of microbial burden on common hospital surfaces through introduction of copper. J Clin Microbiol 2012;50(7):2217–2223.Google Scholar
7.Carling, PC, Bartley, JM. Evaluating hygienic cleaning in health care settings: what you do not know can harm your patients. Am J Infect Control 2010;38(5 suppl 1):S41–50.Google Scholar
8.Attaway, HH 3rd, Fairey, S, Steed, LL, Salgado, CD, Michels, HT, Schmidt, MG. Intrinsic bacterial burden associated with intensive care unit hospital beds: effects of disinfection on population recovery and mitigation of potential infection risk. Am J Infect Control 2012;40:907–912.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.White, LF, Dancer, SJ, Robertson, C, McDonald, J. Are hygiene standards useful in assessing infection risk? Am J Infect Control 2008;36(5):381–384.Google Scholar
10.O'Gorman, J, Humphreys, H. Application of copper to prevent and control infection. Where are we now? J Hosp Infect 2012;81(4):217–223.Google Scholar
11.Weber, DJ, Rutala, WA. Self-disinfecting surfaces. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012;33(1):10–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Karpanen, TJ, Casey, AL, Lambert, PA, et al.The antimicrobial efficacy of copper alloy furnishing in the clinical environment: a crossover study. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012;33(1):3–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Havill, NL, Moore, BA, Boyce, JM. Comparison of the microbiological efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapor and ultraviolet light processes for room decontamination. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012;33(5):507–512.Google Scholar