New Study Shows Copper Could Control MRSA Contamination
A new study holds promise for stemming MRSA contamination by using copper alloys for surfaces in healthcare facilities. Doctors C. William Keevil and J.O. Noyce of the University of Southampton, U.K., will report their findings at the ASM General Meeting in New Orleans, this week.
The study compared the survival rates of the often-deadly bacteria on stainless steel, the most commonly used metal in healthcare facilities, and on selected copper alloys. At room temperature, MRSA was able to persist and remain viable in dried deposits on stainless steel (C304) for periods up to 72 hours. For copper alloys – C77000 (55% copper), C24000 (80% copper) and C19700 (99% copper) – significant reductions in viability were achieved after 4.5 hours, 3 hours and 1.5 hours, respectively. The yellow brass rendered the bacteria completely inviable after 270 minutes, while the high-copper alloy took only 90 minutes.
Dr. Keevil said the study strongly indicates that use of the copper metals in such applications as door knobs, push plates, fittings, fixtures and work surfaces would considerably mitigate MRSA in hospitals and reduce the risk of cross-contamination between staff and patients in critical care areas. He also explained that, despite the significant performance of copper alloys in this study, the survivability of MRSA on all metals at lower temperatures (39°F/4°C) is much greater, indicating that heightened hygiene is particularly imperative in those environments.
Keevil added that the antimicrobial effects of copper have been well documented. He cited recent studies on E. coli O157 and Listeria monocytogenes on copper alloy surfaces that show similar dramatic results, reducing viability of those pathogens from several weeks on stainless steel to only a matter of hours on copper alloys.
A copy of the study report, "The Antimicrobial Effect of Copper and Copper-based Alloys on Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus," may be obtained by contacting the Copper Development Association.
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