Antimicrobial Efficacy
U.S. EPA-approved testing demonstrates that, when cleaned regularly, Antimicrobial Copper Alloys kill 99.9% of the organisms listed below within two hours. Any reference to effectiveness against other organisms has not been proven by U.S. EPA-approved testing.
Antimicrobial Copper Alloys are not registered or approved by U.S. EPA or FDA forcontrolling disease or the transmission of bacteria that can cause disease in humans. Copper alloy surface materials have been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but they do not necessarily prevent cross contamination.
Antimicrobial Copper Alloys are a supplement to and not a substitute for good hygienic practices; users must continueto follow routine cleaning and disinfection practices.
Antimicrobial Copper Alloys are not approved for use in food-contact or drinkingwater applications.
Staphylococcus aureus
Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are very common in healthcare settings. This bacterium is present on the skin of many healthy individuals and can easily be transferred from patients and healthcare workers to touch surfaces and vice versa. Staph infections usually appear in the form of boils or rashes on the skin that can worsen if not treated properly. Utilizing registered copper alloys for frequently touched surfaces can help fight this prevalent bacterium.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
This antibiotic-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus can be deadly and is difficult to treat. MRSA infection rates continue to rise worldwide, costing the healthcare industry billions of dollars annually. EPA-registered copper alloys provide supplemental defense against MRSA. Copper is an excellent material for frequently touched surfaces because of its ability to kill MRSA in between regular cleanings. The graph below illustrates the survival of MRSA on copper and stainless steel for comparative purposes. Within two hours, the number of live MRSA colony forming units is reduced by 99.9% on copper (99.9%). Almost no reduction is observed on stainless steel after six hours (the total duration of the test).
Figure 1. MRSA Viability on Copper Alloys & Stainless Steel @ 20CEscherichia coli O157:H7
This bacterium is responsible for numerous food recalls, illnesses and deaths. Exposure can cause severe stomach cramps, vomiting and kidney failure. E. coli O157:H7 is spread by contact with infected fecal matter, which happens quite regularly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, everyone has some risk of infection from this bacterium. Registered copper alloy surfaces kill 99.9% of E. coli O157:H7 within two hours and provide an additional level of protection to good hygienic practices. The chart below demonstrates that copper (99.9%) kills E. coli O157:H7 while stainless steel have virtually no effect after six hours.
Figure 2. Viability of E. coli O157:H7 on Copper, Stainless Steel, and Polyethylene SurfacesPseudomonas aeruginosa
This bacterium, and many others associated with hospital-acquired infections, is opportunistic. This implies that the bacteria may come into contact with people on a regular basis with no adverse effects. However, when a weakness in the host's defenses is recognized, the bacterium can be deadly. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found in the soil and on plants and animals. People that come into contact with these mediums can spread the bacteria to touched surfaces which can endanger those with weakened immune systems. This is highly pertinent to patients in healthcare settings. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for about 0.4% of all hospital-acquired infections each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Registered copper alloy surfaces effectively kill 99.9% of this pathogen within two hours, between regular cleanings and disinfection routines.
Enterobacter aerogenes
Another source of hospital infections is the common, opportunistic bacterium Enterobacter aerogenes. Strains of this bacterium show extraordinary resistance to standard antibiotic treatments and resulting infections have a high fatality rate. This is a result of long-term colonization of Enterobacter aerogenes in healthcare environments. The amount of Enterobacter aerogenes present on frequently touched hospital surfaces can be reduced, in between regular cleanings, by incorporating registered copper alloys. The graph below shows copper's intrinsic ability to kill this resilient bacterium. Within two hours, more than 99.9% of Enterobacter aerogenes colony forming units is killed on copper and brass, while very little reduction is observed on the control material (stainless steel).
Figure 3. Viability of Enterobacter aerogenes on Touch Surface Materials