Brief Report
Self-sanitizing copper-impregnated surfaces for bioburden reduction in patient rooms

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2017.01.012Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Copper-impregnated tray tables had lower microbial burden than standard material.

  • Bioburden difference between surfaces was statistically significant beyond 24 hours.

  • The mean bioburden on copper surface was 81% lower at hour 30 than non-copper.

Novel self-sanitizing copper oxide-impregnated solid surfaces have the potential to influence bioburden levels, potentially lowering the risk of transmission of pathogens in patient care environments. Our study showed persistently lower microbial burden over a 30-hour sampling period on a copper-impregnated tray table compared with a standard noncopper surface in occupied patient rooms after thorough initial disinfection.

Key Word

Surface disinfection

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This work was supported by the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (Temple, TX).

The copper-impregnated over-bed tabletop used in this study was donated to Central Texas Veterans Health Care System by EOS surfaces under a cooperative research and development agreement. EOSCu Surfaces LLC, Norfolk, VA, did not participate in the study design or in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Conflicts of interest: None to report.