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Evaluation of copper alloys for reducing infection by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium in intensive care unit and in vitro
- Source :
- The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine, Vol 36, Iss 5, Pp 1204-1210 (2021), The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- The Korean Association of Internal Medicine, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Background/Aims: Multi-drug resistant pathogens are increasing among healthcare-associated infections. It is well known that copper and copper alloys have antimicrobial activity. We evaluated the activity of copper against bacteria in a hospital setting in Korea.Methods: This study was conducted in a laboratory and medical intensive care unit (ICU). Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) were inoculated onto copper, copper alloy and stainless steel plates. After 24 hours of incubation, colony-forming units (CFU) were counted in the laboratory. Two similar rooms were chosen in the ICU; one room had copper-containing surface, and the other room contained items with a stainless steel surfaces. Items were sampled weekly for 8 weeks when the rooms were not crowded and when the rooms were busier with healthcare workers or visitors.Results: In vitro time-kill curves showed copper or, a copper alloy yielded a significant reduction in MRSA and VRE CFUs over 15 minutes. Upon exposure to stainless steel plates, CFUs were slowly reduced for 24 hours. In vivo, MRSA CFUs were lower in rooms with copper-containing surfaces compared with controls, both after cleaning and after patients had received visitors (p < 0.05). Analysis of VRE revealed similar results, but VRE CFUs from copper-containing surfaces of drug carts in the ICU did not decrease significantly.Conclusions: Copper has antimicrobial activity and appears to reduce the number of multi-drug resistant microorganisms in a hospital environment. This finding suggests the potential of the use of copper fittings, instruments and surfaces in hospital.
- Subjects :
- vancomycin resistant enterococcus faecium
Hospital setting
intensive care units
Enterococcus faecium
chemistry.chemical_element
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
medicine.disease_cause
Microbiology
law.invention
antibacterial activity
Vancomycin
law
Alloys
medicine
Humans
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections
Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium
Cross Infection
business.industry
technology, industry, and agriculture
Staphylococcal Infections
biochemical phenomena, metabolism, and nutrition
Antimicrobial
Copper
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Intensive care unit
Infectious Diseases
chemistry
copper
Copper alloy
Steel plates
Medicine
Original Article
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20056648 and 12263303
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....00a9e8dfe9faf3674eaa9e4a59fe910e