Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Properties of Copper Surfaces in an Outpatient Infectious Disease Practice

Rai, Seema; Hirsch, Bruce Elliot; Attaway, Hubert H.; Nadan, R.; Fairey, Sarah E.; Hardy, J; Miller, Gerald R.; Armellino, Donna; Moran, W.; Sharpe, Peter; Estelle, A.; Michel, James H.; Michels, Harold T.; Schmidt, Michael G.

doi:10.1086/663701

Cited by 33 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Hence, the coating of surfaces with copper-based alloys could provide a nontoxic, costeffective and eco-friendly way of countering bacterial contaminations. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has acknowledged the antimicrobial efficacy of over 280 copper-based products against disease-causing bacteria with an average biocidal efficacy of approximately 99% within 2 h for alloys containing 60% or higher concentrations of copper (Rai et al 2012). The incorporation of copper-containing alloys into hospital wards could significantly decrease bacterial contamination compared with stainless steel or polymer surfaces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of biocidal efficacy of copper alloy coatings in comparison with solid metal surfaces: generation of organic copper phosphate nanoflowers

Gutierrez

Portman²,

Pershin

et al. 2013

J Appl Microbiol

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Aims: To analyse the biocidal efficacy of thermal sprayed copper surfaces. Methods and Results: Copper alloy sheet metals containing >60% copper have been shown to exhibit potent biocidal activity. Surface biocidal activity was assessed by epifluorescence microscopy. After 2-h exposure at 20°C in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), contact killing of Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis by brass sheet metal and phosphor bronze was 3-4-times higher than that by stainless steel. SEM observations revealed that the surface membranes of both bacterial strains were slightly more irregular when exposed to brass sheet metal than stainless steel. However, when exposed to phosphor bronze coating, E. coli were 3-4 times larger with irregular membrane morphology. In addition, the majority of the cells were associated with spherical carbon-copper-phosphate crystalline nanostructures characteristic of nanoflowers. The membranes of many of the S. epidermidis exhibited blebbing, and a small subset was also associated with nanoflowers. Conclusions: Our data indicate that increasing the surface roughness of copper alloys had a pronounced impact on the membrane integrity of Grampositive and, to a lesser degree, Gram-negative bacteria. In the presence of PBS, carbon-copper-phosphate-containing nanoflowers were formed, likely nucleated by components derived from killed bacteria. The intimate association of the bacteria with the nanoflowers and phosphor bronze coating likely contributed to their nonreversible adhesion. Significance and Impact of the Study: Thermal spraying of copper alloys provides a strategy for the rapid coating of three-dimensional organic and inorganic surfaces with biocidal copper alloys. Our study demonstrates that the macroscale surface roughness generated by the thermal spray process enhances the biocidal activity of copper alloys compared with the nanoscale surface roughness of copper sheet metals. Moreover, the coating surface topography provides conditions for the rapid formation of organic copper phosphate nanocrystals/nanoflowers.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of biocidal efficacy of copper alloy coatings in comparison with solid metal surfaces: generation of organic copper phosphate nanoflowers

Gutierrez

Portman²,

Pershin

et al. 2013

J Appl Microbiol

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“…Nosocomial infections are an increasing problem throughout the world and cost many lives (9). A number of hospital trials in which rooms have been fitted with copper alloy door handles, bathroom fixtures, tabletops, etc., have been conducted or are ongoing (10)(11)(12)(13)(14). They have shown that on copper surfaces, there is a substantial reduction of the microbial burden on a continuous basis.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contact Killing of Bacteria on Copper Is Suppressed if Bacterial-Metal Contact Is Prevented and Is Induced on Iron by Copper Ions

Mathews

Hans

Mücklich

et al. 2013

Appl Environ Microbiol

166

114

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bBacteria are rapidly killed on copper surfaces, and copper ions released from the surface have been proposed to play a major role in the killing process. However, it has remained unclear whether contact of the bacteria with the copper surface is also an important factor. Using laser interference lithography, we engineered copper surfaces which were covered with a grid of an inert polymer which prevented contact of the bacteria with the surface. Using Enterococcus hirae as a model organism, we showed that the release of ionic copper from these modified surfaces was not significantly reduced. In contrast, killing of bacteria was strongly attenuated. When E. hirae cells were exposed to a solid iron surface, the loss of cell viability was the same as on glass. However, exposing cells to iron in the presence of 4 mM CuSO 4 led to complete killing in 100 min. These experiments suggest that contact killing proceeds by a mechanism whereby the metal-bacterial contact damages the cell envelope, which, in turn, makes the cells susceptible to further damage by copper ions.

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“…Field trials of these countertops have demonstrated the reduction in bioburden in a variety of clinical settings [33-37] and a reduction in the risk of infections [38,39]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potent bactericidal efficacy of copper oxide impregnated non-porous solid surfaces

Monk

Kanmukhla

Trinder³

et al. 2014

BMC Microbiology

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BackgroundThe role of fomites and the environment in nosocomial infections is becoming widely recognized. In this paper we discuss the use of Cupron copper oxide impregnated non-porous solid surface in the hospital setting and present in vitro testing data via USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved testing protocols that demonstrate the efficacy of these products to assist in reduction in environmental contamination and potentially nosocomial infections.ResultsThe two countertops tested passed all the acceptance criteria by the EPA (>99.9% kill within 2 hours of exposure) killing a range of bacterial pathogens on the surface of the countertops even after repeated exposure of the countertops to the pathogen, and multiple wet and dry abrasion cycles.ConclusionsCupron enhanced EOS countertops thus may be an important adjunct to be used in hospital settings to reduce environmental bioburden and potentially nosocomial infections.

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Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Properties of Copper Surfaces in an Outpatient Infectious Disease Practice

Cited by 33 publications

References 3 publications

Evaluation of biocidal efficacy of copper alloy coatings in comparison with solid metal surfaces: generation of organic copper phosphate nanoflowers

Evaluation of biocidal efficacy of copper alloy coatings in comparison with solid metal surfaces: generation of organic copper phosphate nanoflowers

Contact Killing of Bacteria on Copper Is Suppressed if Bacterial-Metal Contact Is Prevented and Is Induced on Iron by Copper Ions

Potent bactericidal efficacy of copper oxide impregnated non-porous solid surfaces

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