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New scientific studies continue to prove that antimicrobial copper surfaces provide a constant barrier to germs.

A five year Japanese study recently presented at the 1st Annual World Congress of Microbes in Beijing has once again confirmed copper鈥檚 superior ability to fight bacteria on touch and non-touch surfaces. Researchers monitored the copper products on a monthly basis, recording major reductions in bacterial load and a drop in MRSA infections when compared to control wards.

In the U.S. researchers have just reported a study that monitored six commonly touched objects-like bed rails, over bed tray tables, nurse call buttons and IV poles-finding they had fewer contaminants and remained clean longer than plastic ones. The study鈥攗ndertaken at the Medical University of South Carolina Medical Centre鈥攆ound plastic bed rails re-contaminated within minutes of being cleaned, while contamination of the copper rails was 10 fold lower even before cleaning and 90 per cent lower after.

The new results are expected to bolster the long term US study being undertaken by the American Department of Defense examining whether the lower surface contamination on copper can also cut hospital infections over the long term. The final results are not expected till the end of the year, but initial figures found a 40 per cent drop in risk.

Small copper, big savings

If the science behind the Antimicrobial Copper brand is looking sound, so too is commercial backing. Leading companies around the world, including herein Australia, are now developing products with the Cu+ stamp that can be used in a range of health and medical settings.

The International Copper Association (ICA) is behind the brand and new analysis from them has shown that very little copper actually needs to be added to a hospital room to deliver major impact.

According to John Fennell from the Copper Development Centre, Australia鈥攑art of ICA鈥檚 global network鈥攐nly about 8 kgs of copper, or copper alloys like brass or bronze, are needed to replace the most commonly touched surfaces in a hospital room.

鈥淩eplacing the six most commonly touched surfaces in a hospital room, things like bed rails, call buttons and trays, with copper versions will add an extra cost to the average hospital room and we鈥檙e currently assessing just what that might be,鈥� John Fennell said.

鈥淏ut we believe it can deliver health and cost benefits fairly quickly.鈥�

鈥淚n the US, the average hospital stay for someone who picks up an infection will cost over $41,000 to treat, or well over twice what a normal stay would,鈥� John Fennell said.

鈥淲e estimate that if the 40 per cent infection rate reduction flagged in the latest US Department of Defense study holds true then Cu+ surfaces in a hospital room could deliver payback in under 12 days.鈥�

Certainly there鈥檚 now no end of options for replacing common touch and non-touch products in any medical or healthcare setting. Many of the studies that have replaced products in rooms have changed taps, door hardware like plates and handles, sinks, beds, tables and IV poles, but the list of what鈥檚 out there keeps growing.

Companies in the UK and US鈥攁nd increasingly in China and India鈥攁re now stepping up to provide an even wider selection of components, everything from call buttons and pull chords, to toilets, counter tops, light switches and sockets, and even pens.

鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing a big push to really commercialise the Antimicrobial Copper brand these days and here in Australia we鈥檝e formed a Consortium with Assa Abloy, MM Kembla, Crane Copper Tube, YoungDong, Clipsal and Austral Wright to develop the market,鈥� John Fennell said.

鈥淭hat not only means the product range is getting a lot wider, but can be mass produced on time, tailored to suit any setting, and be cost effective for any budget.鈥�

John Fennell can be contacted on 02 9380200 or cdc@copperdev.com

Proven: Copper surfaces cut infection risk by 40%

A major clinical trial in the US has proved antimicrobial copper surfaces cut the risk ofa hospital infection by 40.4 percent.

Funded by the US Department of Defense, the study took place at three major hospitals: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the Medical University of South Carolina and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.

As part of the study commonly-touched items like bed rails, over bed tray tables, nurse call buttons and IV poles were replaced with ones made from antimicrobial copper.

Antimicrobial Copper is the most effective touch surface on the market.