title: From Laboratory Research to a Clinical Trial: Copper Alloy Surfaces Kill Bacteria and Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is a translational science article that discusses copper alloys as antimicrobial environmental surfaces. Bacteria die when they come in contact with copper alloys in laboratory tests. Components made of copper alloys were also found to be efficacious in a clinical trial.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There are indications that bacteria found on frequently touched environmental surfaces play a role in infection transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  In laboratory testing, copper alloy samples were inoculated with bacteria. In clinical trials, the amount of live bacteria on the surfaces of hospital components made of copper alloys, as well as those made from standard materials, was measured. Finally, infection rates were tracked in the hospital rooms with the copper components and compared to those found in the rooms containing the standard components.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater than a 99.9% reduction in live bacteria was realized in laboratory tests. In the clinical trials, an 83% reduction in bacteria was seen on the copper alloy components, when compared to the surfaces made from standard materials in the control rooms. Finally, the infection rates were found to be reduced by 58% in patient rooms with components made of copper, when compared to patients' rooms with components made of standard materials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacteria die on copper alloy surfaces in both the laboratory and the hospital rooms. Infection rates were lowered in those hospital rooms containing copper components. Thus, based on the presented information, the placement of copper alloy components, in the built environment, may have the potential to reduce not only hospital-acquired infections but also patient treatment costs.
authors.affiliation: Copper Development Association, New York, NY, USA harold.michels@copperalliance.us.
authors.forename: Harold T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Michels
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: C William
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Keevil
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Cassandra D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000494:pharmacology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004779:Environment Design; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000592:standards*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003300:Copper
keywords: built environment; clinical trial; environmental surfaces; hospital-acquired infections; translational research