MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, pronounced mersa) may have met its match in nothing more than touch surfaces made of copper, bronze, or brass. Research out of the U.K. by Bill Keevil and others at the University of Southampton shows an antimicrobial effect on a range of microbes that can cause hospital-acquired infections. About 80% of infectious illnesses are transmitted by touch.

The EPA in February approved the registration of 317 antimicrobial copper alloys, with public health claims. The registration is based on independent laboratory testing using EPA-prescribed protocols that demonstrate the metals' ability to kill specific disease-causing bacteria. Pathogens tested were Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and MRSA.

Stainless steel and aluminum doorknobs and push plates in hospitals may look clean but can still harbor deadly microbes which can survive on these surfaces for days. Even silver-containing coatings on stainless steel showed no effect against E. coli. and MRSA.

Although some copper alloys tarnish slightly, tests show these surfaces do not lose effectiveness against microbes. A long list of touch surfaces can benefit from copper's antimicrobial properties, which have been used throughout history as a hygienic material. A few low-cost and easy to implement improvements in facilities design can reduce the viability of microbes on the most frequently touched surfaces. For example, stainless steel and aluminum door handles can be replaced with uncoated brass handles. To control costs, it may be possible to retrofit door handles only in areas where transmitting infectious diseases is a special concern, such as intensive care units, burn units, and quarantined areas.

The use of a copper-alloy surface is a supplement and not a substitute for standard infection control practices. Users must continue to follow all current infection control (hygienic) practices including those practices related to cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces.

The U.S. DOD has granted funding under the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command to see how well copper works in hospitals. Clinical trials are underway in New York City and Charleston, S.C. Another grant will focus on the effectiveness of copper components in HVAC systems at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, S.C. and the Air Force Academy.

Keeping Up With Copper

The U.K.-based Antimicrobial Copper Interest Group includes device designers and healthcare professionals who wish to keep up with developments, research, and in-situ trials from the U.S., Japan, and Europe. A similar group is being formed in the U.S. For information about antimicrobial copper, visit www.copper.org or contact the Copper Development Association at (212) 251-7200.