the bactericidal effect of copper alloy on door handles in hematology/stem cell transplant units was evaluated. Materials and methods: In the hematology/stem cell transplant unit of Keio University Hospital (Tokyo, Japan), door handles in three units were replaced with copper-impregnated handles. The samples obtained from the surface of the handles by using a commercially available sterile swab kit (Japan Becton Dickinson, Tokyo, Japan) were applied to bacterial culture and detected bacterium were identified by standard methods. Control samples were obtained from the standard door handles in the same ward. Results: In total, 18 samples were obtained from copperimpregnated handles and 12 from the control handles. Only 4 (22%) of 18 samples from surfaces of copper impregnated handles grew bacteria, while 100% of those from control handles did so (P < .0001). The median number of colony forming units per ml was 0 (range, 0-220) in copperimpregnated handles, which was significantly lower than 300 (range, 40-1.1 × 10E6) in the control handles (P < .0001). The detected isolates were Bacillus subtilis in copper-impregnated handles, while they were variable, including Bacillus subtilis, Moraxella osloensis, Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium sp. Conclusion: Copper-impregnated composite showed a significant bactericidal effect on the highly touched door handles in hematology/stem cell transplant units as compared with the standard material. Copper alloy could be a promising material with self-disinfecting activity, contributing to the reduction of opportunistic infection in healthcare institutes.
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