Publications, Design Guides, Articles and Scientific Papers

This page has information on antimicrobial copper reasearch (laboratory and clinical), applications and projects and is divided into four sections:

• Publications - overviews of the scientific evidence, applications, details on initiatives.
• Design guidance - introductory material and technical information, including the Specifiers' Guide.
• Magazine articles - easy-to-digest, recently published short articles.
• Scientific papers - peer reviewed scientific publications.

Publications

Pub 202 - Practical Aspects of Reducing Bioburden with Copper: Clinical Case Study: Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham
There is now substantial scientific evidence to support the replacement of frequently touched equipment and fittings in the clinical environment with those incorporating copper to reduce contamination and therefore reduce the risk of infection. The Copper Clinical Trial, conducted on a busy medical ward at Selly Oak Hospital, demonstrated a 90-100% reduction in contamination on coppercontaining vs standard surfaces. The experience of fitting out the test ward with a full range of copper-containing products has made a major contribution to the understanding of the practical application of the science. (Presented at IHEEM 2009 Conference, Harrogate.

Pub 201 - Antimicrobial Copper - FAQs
A brochure answering frequently asked questions regarding antimicrobial copper.

Pub 200 - Comparing Antimicrobial Efficacy of Copper and Silver for Interior Touch Surface
Applications
Silver and copper have been used for their antimicrobial properties for centuries. This one page summary reports on a study published in Letters in Applied Microbiology which compares performance of silver-ion containing materials and copper under typical indoor conditions.

Pub 197 - Antimicrobial Efficacy of Copper and Copper Alloys - Meticillin-resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus
Short summary of efficacy of copper and copper alloys against MRSA and EMRSA at room and chill temperatures with kill curves for both exceptionally high and typical microbial challenges.

Pub 196 - Reducing the Risk of Healthcare Associated Infections - The Role of Copper Touch Surfaces
A referenced report summarising the scientific evidence on the antimicrobial efficacy of copper and copper alloys in the laboratory and clinical environment. Also provides an introduction to practical implementation of copper touch surfaces in healthcare facilities. 10pp. (March 2009)

Pub 195 - Antimicrobial Copper: The Scientific Evidence
Brochure providing an overview of the scientific evidence to support the replacement of frequently touched equipment and fittings in the clinical environment with those incorporating copper to reduce contamination and risk of infection. Includes the first published Selly Oak Clinical Trial results. 4pp. (February 2009)

A new way to contain hospital-acquired infections
Introductory brochure highlighting the potential role of copper alloy touch surfaces in combating healthcare-aquired infections. International Copper Association, Ltd. 6pp. (September 2008)

Solid defence against harmful microbes
Introductory brochure highlighting the latest research on copper's antimicrobial properties and giving details of the US EPA registration of copper alloys as antimicrobial materials. International Copper Association, Ltd. 6pp. (September 2008)

African Health Care Initiative
CDA South Africa publication on a programme to develop sustainable rural health clinics and copper's role in providing hygienic surfaces, clean drinking water and energy. Includes an overview of the work of Professor Shaheen Mehta, University of Stellenbosch, on the antimicrobial effect of copper on multi-drug resistant bacteria including tuberculosis. 15pp. (February 2008)

Pub 189 - Lowering infection rates in hospitals and healthcare facilities
Overview of copper's potential role in fighting hospital-acquired infections. Contains information on copper's antimicrobial efficacy, general properties and essential role in human, animal and plant health. 24pp. (March 2007)

Pub 180 - Copper touch surfaces in healthcare facilities - naturally antimicrobial
CDA leaflet with a simple introduction to the research into inactivation of MRSA by copper and looking at potential touch surface applications in healthcare facilities. 2pp. (August 2005)

Brass and copper containers for water purification in rural India
University of Northumbria presentation by Professor Rob Reed on the use of traditional brass and copper water storage vessels (muktas) to provide clean drinking water in rural India. (2005)

Pub 198 - The Benefits of Designing with Antimicrobial Copper Alloys
Introductory brochure for architects and designers providing an overview of how to harness the inherent antimicrobial property of copper to design out infection in critical environments such as hospitals and care homes, where touch surfaces can act as reservoirs for dangerous germs. (August 2009)

Pub 910 - Hygienic Copper Touch Surfaces - Specifiers Guide
This Guide is under development but the door furniture specifications are available below. These simple one-pagers provide guidance on dimensions, alloys and finishing.

A1 Architectural Ironmongery: Lever or Turn Handle

A2 Architectural Ironmongery: Pull or D Handle

A3 Architectural Ironmongery: Push or Finger Plate

A4 Architectural Ironmongery: Kick or Door Protector Plate

SMART Materials, a designer's handbook
Interactive handbook on SMART materials for designers, including a section on 'antimicrobials', featuring copper and copper alloys for medical workplace and food preparation surfaces and for medical devices with a status rating of 'green' for 'widely available and affordable'. 2008. (Registration and login required.)

Fighting Germs with hygienic copper surfaces
CDA article by Angela Vessey in Cleaning and Hygiene Today explaining why brass door handles are making a comeback in hospitals as antimicrobial copper alloys are introduced to help fight infection.

Antimicrobial Copper
CDA article published in Sustainable FM covering the return of copper alloys to hygienic environments and the sustainable credentials that make the red metal so green. (November/December 2009)

Kills germs fast!
An article written by Celia Matthews of HIP! Magazine after seeing a presentation regarding antimicrobial copper at the 2009 Annual Bathroom Conference. It discusses the use of uncoated copper alloy products for bathroom and medical applications to help combat the threat of modern 'superbugs'. (November 2009)

Precious metal
CDA article by Angela Vessey published in Public Service Review, Health 20, describing how an old school fixture is providing a new handle on infection control. 2pp. (July 2009)

Clinical uses of copper
CDA article by Angela Vessey in Cleanroom Technology magazine on the potential use of copper and copper alloys for hygienic healthcare touch surfaces. 4pp. (June 2007)

Beautiful and green
Article by David L Hunt in Eco-structure magazine on the advantage of copper's antimicrobial properties in HVAC systems. 3pp. (2009)

Copper in my Medicine Chest
CDA Inc article by William H Dresher on medical applications of copper, looking at historical and current uses. (June 2000)

Doorknobs: a source of nosocomial infection?
Diagnostic Medicine article by Dr Phyllis J Kuhn which discusses the unique bactericidal properties of copper and its alloys. This was the first clinical observation that copper surfaces could have a role to play in reducing transmission of infection. (November/December 1983)

Role of copper in reducing hospital environment contamination
A.L. Casey, D. Adams, T.J. Karpanen, P.A. Lambert, B.D. Cookson, P. Nightingale, L. Miruszenko, R. Shillam, P. Christian and T.S.J. Elliott, J Hosp Infect (2009), doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2009.08.018.
The environment may act as a reservoir for pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). Approaches to reducing environmental microbial contamination in addition to cleaning are thus worthy of consideration. Copper is well recognised as having antimicrobial activity but this property has until now not been applied to the clinical setting.

Antimicrobial efficacy of copper touch surfaces in reducing environmental bioburden in a South African community healthcare facility
In press - Marais F et al, J Hosp Infect (2009), doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2009.07.010.
A comparative controlled study was conducted at a busy walk-in primary healthcare clinic (PHC) in Grabouw, a rural region of the Western Cape, South Africa, to demonstrate antimicrobial efficacy of copper touch surfaces in reducing bioburden in a community healthcare facility.

Effects of temperature and humidity on the efficacy of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus challenged antimicrobial materials containing silver and copper
Letters in Applied Microbiology ISSN 0266-8254 © 2009 The Authors.
Journal compilation © 2009 The Society for Applied Microbiology, Letters in Applied Microbiology 49 (2009) 191–195 191.

Antimicrobial surfaces and their potential in reducing the role of the inanimate environment in the incidence of hospital-acquired infections
Kristopher Page, Michael Wilson and Ivan P Parkin, University College London, January 2009

Copper for Preventing Microbial Environmental Contamination
A L Casey, P A Lambert, L Miruszenko, T S J Elliott. Poster presented at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), October 2008.

Microbial Burden of Objects in ICU Rooms
C D Salgado, K A Sepkowitz, T Plaskett, J F John, J R Cantey, H H Attaway, L L Steed, H T Michels, M G Schmidt. Poster presented at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), October 2008.

Antimicrobial efficacy of copper surfaces against spores and vegetative cells of Clostridium difficile: the germination theory
L. J. Wheeldon, T. Worthington, P. A. Lambert, A. C. Hilton, C. J. Lowden and T. S. J. Elliott, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2008 62(3):522-525; doi:10.1093/jac/dkn219.

Survival of Clostridium difficile on copper and steel: Futuristic options for hospital hygiene
Weaver L et al., J Hosp Infect (2008), doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2007.11.011

The antimicrobial activity of copper and copper alloys against nosocomial pathogens and Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from healthcare facilities in the Western Cape: an in-vitro study.
Mehtar S, Wiid I, Todorov S D, J Hosp Infect. 2008 Jan;68(1):45-51. Epub 2007 Dec 11.

Inactivation of Influenza A virus on copper versus stainless steel surfaces.
Noyce J O, Michels H T, Keevil C W, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Apr. 2007, p. 2748–2750.

Use of copper cast alloys to control Escherichia coli O157 cross-contamination during food processing.
Noyce J O, Michels H T and Keevil C W, Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72:4239-44 (2006).

Potential use of copper surfaces to reduce survival of epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the healthcare environment.
Noyce J O, Michels H T and Keevil C W, Journal of Hospital Infection 62:289-97 (2006).

Survival of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A on metal surfaces: implications for cross-contamination.
Wilks S A, Michels H T, Keevil C W, Int J Food Microbiol, Sep 1;111(2):93-8. Epub 2006 Jul 28.

The survival of E.coli O157 on a range of metal surfaces.
Wilks S A, Michels H T, Keevil C W, The International Journal of Food Microbiology 105:445-454 (2005).

Copper Alloys for Human Infectious Disease Control.
Michels H T, Wilks S A, Noyce J O, Keevil C W. Materials Science and Technology Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, (Sept 2005).

Inactivation of Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria in traditional brass and earthenware water storage vessels
Chhibber, Sanjay, Reed, Robert, Tandon, Puja, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, (2005) 88:35 –4, 14 pages.