Copper surfaces could help control MRSA

Using copper alloys for surfaces in hospitals and healthcare facilities could reduce MRSA infections. The University of Southampton team found the superbug was unable to survive on copper alloy surfaces for longer than 90 minutes. The UK scientists presented their findings at a recent meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in New Orleans. It was shown that at room temperature, MRSA was able to persist and remain viable in dried deposits on stainless steel for periods up to 72 hours. For copper alloys containing 55, 80 and 99% copper, significant reductions in viability were achieved after four and a half hours, three hours, and one and a half hours, respectively. Yellow brass rendered the bacteria completely inviable after 270 minutes, while the high-copper alloy took only 90 minutes. Dr Jonathan Noyce from the University and his colleagues believe switching hospital work surfaces and door handles from stainless steel to copper could help combat MRSA. "MRSA infections in hospitals are pretty rife and out of control. If you changed some of these surfaces to copper-based alloys these bacteria would be dead in 90 minutes," he said.

Tel : +44 (0)23 8059 4726 cwk@soton.ac.uk