Antimicrobial Copper surfaces in a children’s hospital in Chile dramatically cut the presence of bacteria.
The 12-month joint US-Chile clinical trial at the Roberto del Rio Children’s Hospital in Chile studied bacteria load on both eight surfaces-bed rails, bed rail levers, IV poles, tap handles and the nurses’ workstation-that were either standard or made from Antimicrobial Copper.
The researchers studied the infection data on both types of surfaces each day for the whole year and found that on average 88% fewer bacteria than those in the control rooms with standard surfaces, and 94% met the bacterial concentration limit for terminal cleaning compared to only 48% of controls.
The study found “the contribution of antimicrobial copper touch surfaces to environmental hygiene in a paediatric intensive care unit describes the intervention as a ‘no-touch disinfection technology’ that warrants serious consideration as part of a bundle of infection prevention measures.”
The researchers also concluded “that exposure of paediatric patients to solid antimicrobial copper objects in the ICU resulted in decreased Hospital Care Associated Infection (HCAI) rates when compared with those in non-copper surroundings.”
“Whilst cleaning, hand hygiene and other measures are effective, they cannot completely eliminate contamination risk. Augmenting hospitals with continuously active antimicrobial copper surfaces offers an additional hygiene measure,” they said.
More information: http://www.antimicrobialcopper.org/uk/news/study-highlights-antimicrobial-copper-no-touch-disinfection-technology