The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the registration of antimicrobial copper alloys with public-health claims. These claims acknowledge copper, brass and bronze can kill harmful, potentially deadly bacteria.
Copper is the first solid-surface material to receive this type of EPA registration, which is supported by extensive antimicrobial-efficacy testing.
The registration is based on independent laboratory testing using EPA-prescribed protocols demonstrating the metals' ability to kill specific disease-causing bacteria, including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is one of the most virulent strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and a common cause of hospital- and community-acquired infections.
Testing under EPA-approved protocols demonstrates copper, brasses, and bronzes are effective against a number of disease-causing bacteria. One study shows copper-alloy surfaces kill more than 99.9 percent of MRSA bacteria within two hours at room temperature.
The following statements are included in the registration:
• "When cleaned regularly, antimicrobial copper-alloy surfaces kill greater than 99.9 percent of (specific) bacteria within two hours and continue to kill more than 99 percent of (these) bacteria even after repeated contamination."
• “The use of a copper-alloy surface is a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection-control practices. Users must continue to follow all current infection-control practices, including those practices related to cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. The copper-alloy surface material has been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but it does not necessarily prevent cross-contamination."
Widely publicized statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate infections acquired in U.S. hospitals affect 2 million individuals every year and result in nearly 100,000 deaths annually. The use of copper alloys for frequently touched surfaces as a supplement to CDC-prescribed hand-washing and disinfection regimens has far-reaching implications.
Potential uses that include door and furniture hardware, bed rails, intravenous stands, dispensers, faucets, sinks, and work stations, can help reduce the amount of disease-causing bacteria in patient rooms.
Unlike coatings or other materials treatments, the antibacterial efficacy of copper metals will not wear away. Discussions are ongoing with major hospital equipment manufacturers about developing appropriate copper-based products.
For more information about antimicrobial copper, visit the Copper Development Association’s Web site.
