Evaluation of the Utilisation of Copper Within a Clinical Environment

Abstract

The antimicrobial properties of copper have been demonstrated in laboratory investigations. In this study the role of copper in reducing environmental microbial contamination in a busy clinical environment was evaluated. A clinical study which involved a cross-over decision compared three items made from copper to standard clinical NHS items. These included a push plate on a door,a toilet seat and a hot and cold water tap attached to a hand wash basin. The study was designed to assessthe efficacy of the copper containing items in reducing environmental microbial contamination. It was clearly demonstrated that the copper had the facility, even in a busyclinical environment to reduce surface microbial contamination. This could have implications for the prevention of spread ofinfection in the clinical area. The opinion of both staff and patients regarding the use of the copper items and application was also determined by questionnaire. The results demonstrated that both staff and patients noticed a difference between the copper containing items as compared to standard hospital equipment. However, within two months they treated the copper containing items no differently from the standard equipment. This suggested that the view point of both staff and patients when the study was carried out should not have interfered or influenced the study or the results. The final section of this study was a laboratory investigation into the antimicrobial activity of copper against staphylococci. Various laboratory methods were used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the copper and in particular to answer the question whether or not copper resistant microorganisms were appearing in a clinical environment during the clinical trial. The results demonstrated that copper resistant microorganisms did not emerge during the study. A more comprehensive copper study has been designedto evaluate further the antimicrobial activity of copper in fifteen different items held commonly in hospitals. An outline of this study has been given with this thesis.